Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang has finally broken his silence on the explosive Shane Gillis controversy that has resurfaced following the comedian's recent podcast appearance, where he repeatedly used a racial slur.
In what marks his first public comments on the matter since Gillis's brief hiring and firing from SNL in 2019, Yang offered a measured but firm response to the ongoing situation.
The 2019 SNL Firestorm
The controversy first ignited five years ago when NBC announced Gillis as a new cast member. Within hours, clips surfaced from Gillis's own podcast featuring derogatory language and racist remarks about Chinese people, directly targeting Yang's heritage.
The network faced immense pressure, leading to Gillis's dismissal before he ever appeared in a single episode. Gillis issued a statement at the time claiming he was a "comedian who pushes boundaries" and that his style "sometimes misses."
The Recent Podcast Provocation
The issue was reignited this month when Gillis appeared on the "Tuesdays with Stories" podcast. During the episode, he and the hosts repeatedly used a racial slur for Chinese people while discussing the 2019 SNL incident, specifically mentioning Yang by name.
This prompted widespread condemnation from viewers and comedy fans, forcing Yang to address the situation publicly.
Yang's Response: Dignity and Disappointment
When asked about the recent incident, Yang displayed characteristic diplomacy. "I think there's just been a lot of conversations around it that I've tried not to engage with," he stated, acknowledging the public discourse while maintaining his privacy on the matter.
His comments suggest a desire to move beyond the controversy while not diminishing its significance. The response has been praised by fans who appreciate Yang's dignified handling of the targeted harassment.
A Career Unaffected
Despite the unpleasantness surrounding Gillis's comments, Yang's career has flourished since joining SNL. He has become one of the show's most beloved cast members, known for his standout impressions and original characters, even earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
The incident highlights ongoing conversations about accountability in comedy and the boundaries of what constitutes humorous "edge-pushing" versus outright bigotry.
