Lorne Michaels got angry when SNL fired Shane Gillis: NBC's decision

Lorne Michaels told the Wall Street Journal he was “angry” when Shane Gillis was fired from “Saturday Night Live” in 2019 after offensive jokes he made on a podcast resurfaced online, including ones containing racial slurs about Asians.

“He said something stupid, but it got blown up until the end of the world,” Michaels said. “I was angry. I thought, 'You didn't see what we were going to do and what I was going to try to bring out in him because I thought he was the real thing.'”

Michaels said it was NBC's decision to fire Gillis, not his own, adding: “That was a very strong statement from those in charge. And of course I wasn’t on that page, but I got it.”

Gillis never became an “SNL” cast member, but returned to the show in February 2024 as host during its 49th season. The decision was controversial as the comedian had been fired five years earlier, but Michaels remained in touch with Gillis beyond the years as his popularity continued to grow.

Michaels told The Hollywood Reporter back in September that Gillis' firing was “bad timing,” saying the comedian had “been bashed for things he had done years before, and the overreaction to that was so mind-boggling.” NBC's decision to fire Gillis was due in part to advertisers' threats not to support “SNL,” with Michaels declaring, “200 Asian companies wanted to boycott the show.”

“It was like mania,” Michaels added at the time. “And the speed of cancellation – and a lot of people deserved to be disliked – it just didn't quite become a reign of terror, but it was like judging everyone by their position on every issue, as opposed to 'Are.' 'Are they good at what they do?'”

In his interview with The Wall Street Journal, Michaels also claimed that “SNL” doesn't take sides on political issues. The show is often viewed as being more favorable to the Democratic Party, especially given the presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Michaels doesn't see it that way. He said he is a registered independent voter and that the show's approach to political satire is nonpartisan.

“There is stupidity on both sides. Our job is to make fun of it,” Michaels said.

“SNL” is currently airing its 50th anniversary season. A new episode with host John Mulaney and musical guest Chappell Roan will air live on November 2nd. Visit The Wall Street Journal's website to read more about Michaels and the “SNL” cast.