Shane Gillis is not off the hook yet. A week after his controversial Saturday Night Live hosting gig, the British version of the show took direct aim at him. On the October 17, 2026 episode of SNL UK, Weekend Update co-host Ania Magliano closed the segment with a blunt insult aimed at Gillis, calling him a “stupid fucking cunt” after mocking his on-air swearing and his comments about women at the gym.
The moment came during the first official crossover between the American and British versions of the show, with SNL on a scheduled break. SNL UK used the segment to address Gillis’s October 10 monologue, which had already drawn backlash from viewers and fellow comedians.
What Gillis Said in His SNL Monologue
Gillis hosted Saturday Night Live on October 10, 2026. During his opening monologue, he made a joke about women’s gym clothing that quickly drew criticism. His exact words were:
“I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now? You’ve seen the shorts? They’re those neon, like, artificial bait-colored [shorts], and the wrinkles go around the cheeks and all combine at the butthole. And don’t look! You’re not allowed to look.”
The comment was widely described as misogynistic. Dan Levy responded in an Instagram video, saying, “Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores. It makes the men calling them whores misogynists.” Levy added that he was speechless such comments could be made on live national television.
Other celebrities, including Viola Davis, Elizabeth Banks, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, publicly supported Levy’s remarks. Phoebe Robinson also criticised the joke in a social media post.
The F-Bomb That Broke NBC Rules
The monologue was not the only issue. Later in the broadcast, Gillis accidentally dropped an uncensored F-bomb during a Dr. Seuss-themed sketch in which he played the son of the Cat in the Hat. He quickly apologised during the curtain call, saying, “Sorry about earlier”.
Swearing live on air is not allowed under NBC guidelines, and the slip added to the controversy around his appearance. SNL UK, however, does not operate under the same rules. The British show airs after 9 p.m., which means it is allowed to broadcast swear words.
How SNL UK Built the Joke
Ania Magliano used the Weekend Update segment to set up the jab. She first referenced a news story about a ride operator at Munich Oktoberfest who was praised for giving free cycling shorts to female riders.
“Wearing the gym shorts will protect women from being upskirted, but it does make them vulnerable to something much worse.”
A photo of Gillis during his monologue then appeared on screen, and the studio audience laughed. Magliano continued by pointing directly at the F-bomb.
“Last week on SNL, comedian Shane Gillis also caused controversy by dropping the F-bomb. Oh Shane, you’re not allowed to say that, you stupid fucking cunt.”
The line drew loud laughter from the live audience. The joke worked on two levels: it mocked Gillis for breaking a rule that SNL UK does not have to follow, and it used the very word he was not allowed to say on American television.
The First SNL and SNL UK Crossover
The October 17 episode was not just about Gillis. It marked the first official crossover between the two versions of the show. James Austin Johnson, who plays President Donald Trump on the American SNL, made a surprise appearance on SNL UK.
Johnson’s Trump crashed a sketch featuring British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, played by George Fouracres, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, played by Freddie Meredith. The sketch joked about a possible job swap between Trump and Burnham and took shots at several British political and pop-culture stories.
The crossover happened while the American SNL was on a scheduled break. The next new US episode is set for October 31, with host Inde Navarrette and musical guest Gracie Abrams. SNL UK is scheduled to welcome Cynthia Erivo and Blossoms on October 24.
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How the Reaction Split
The SNL UK joke added a new layer to a controversy that was already a week old. Michael Che, co-host of the American Weekend Update, offered a different view when asked about Gillis’s monologue on the Today show.
“That’s comedy. You think it’s funny, and then some people don’t.”
Gillis has not addressed the backlash from his monologue. He apologised for the F-bomb during the curtain call but has not responded to the criticism from fellow comedians and fans.
Where to Watch SNL UK
SNL UK airs on British television after 9 p.m., which allows the show to include swearing that the American version cannot broadcast. New episodes are available in the United States on Peacock on Sundays. The show debuted in March 2026 and began its second season in September 2026. Lorne Michaels is the executive producer of both the American and British versions.
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