Comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan defended Shane Gillis after a joke in Gillis’s Saturday Night Live monologue drew criticism. Rogan said Gillis was joking and argued that the comedian should not be treated as a misogynist because of the remark.
Gillis made the comments while hosting SNL the previous week. He joked about going to a public gym as an overweight man and criticized the revealing clothing worn by some women who exercise there. He also said gym-goers should avoid looking because, in his telling, women were recording videos and bystanders could appear in the background.
The monologue circulated widely online and prompted accusations of misogyny, according to the report. The source describes the criticism as coming from the political left, but does not identify specific critics or provide their full responses.
Rogan addressed the reaction Thursday during a conversation on his podcast with influencer Cody Tucker. He said the word “whore” in Gillis’s joke was likely what upset critics. Rogan acknowledged that genuine misogyny exists, but said Gillis was not expressing hatred of women and called him a good person.
Rogan also objected to what he characterized as efforts to police language. He defended the word as usable in some contexts while saying it should be used wisely. To illustrate his point, Rogan recalled agreeing to return as host of the television program Fear Factor in 2011 after being offered substantial pay, describing his own decision jokingly as “being a whore.”
Gillis is known for politically incorrect comedy and has previously appeared on Rogan’s podcast, the source reports. The material provided does not include a response from Gillis to the latest criticism, nor does it detail the scale or specific nature of the online reaction.
