Former Saturday Night Live cast member Ego Nwodim has joined the reaction to Shane Gillis’ controversial monologue after the comedian joked about women’s workout clothes during his latest hosting appearance.
Nwodim posted a gym photo to her Instagram Story with a pointed caption that appeared to mock the language used in Gillis’ monologue. The response quickly attracted attention as debate continued around the jokes from Saturday’s episode.
The monologue sparks wider criticism
Gillis’ comments about women at the gym drew an audible reaction from the studio audience and were widely discussed online. Actor and writer Dan Levy also criticized the material, arguing that men should speak up when women are described in degrading terms.
Nwodim left SNL ahead of Season 51 after seven seasons on the sketch show. Her response was brief and comedic, but it placed another familiar SNL voice into a conversation that has continued well beyond the broadcast.
The controversy follows a heavily discussed episode that also generated headlines for an accidental expletive during a sketch. Gillis has become one of the show’s most closely watched returning hosts because of his unusual history with SNL.
Source: Variety, October 13, 2026.