Bowen Yang Responds to Accusations of Getting Shane Gillis Fired from SNL

Image credits: Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Bob Woodruff Foundation

Bowen Yang is setting the record straight after being accused of getting Shane Gillis fired from Saturday Night Live in 2019. A background actor, Michelle Best, commented on an Instagram post from the show, claiming Yang was responsible for Gillis' termination, calling him a "whiny queen" and stating that Gillis is "very kind and has smart humor and stands up to bullying." Yang responded to the comment, writing "Didn't do any of this but I wrote the sketch you were a background actor in," and adding a smiley face emoji.

The controversy surrounding Gillis' firing began when his past use of racial and homophobic slurs on a podcast resurfaced, leading to his removal from the show. Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, has since spoken out about the decision, stating that it was NBC's choice to fire Gillis, and that he was "angry" over the termination. Michaels believed that Gillis had potential and was "the real thing," but understood the decision made by the network. Gillis has since apologized for his past remarks and has returned to host the show, with his second stint as host airing this weekend with musical guest Tate McRae.

Yang has been a cast member on SNL since 2019, making history as the first Chinese-American cast member and one of only a handful of out gay stars on the show. He has become a breakout star on the sketch show, known for his imaginative characters and impressions, including his "Weekend Update" characters and impressions of Fran Lebowitz and Charli XCX. Yang has scored multiple Emmy nominations for his work on the show, including three Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nominations. The entertainment industry has been watching Yang's career closely, and his response to the accusations has sparked a conversation about the power of social media and the importance of setting the record straight.

As the controversy surrounding Gillis' firing continues, Yang has spoken out about wanting to move past the incident, stating that he is "curious about what that show would be like and if it would be an opportunity to really move past it." Yang has also spoken about the importance of moving forward and not letting past mistakes define him or his career. The future of SNL is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the show will continue to be a platform for talented comedians and actors to showcase their skills and make audiences laugh.

Here are some of the key points to note about the controversy surrounding Shane Gillis' firing from SNL:

• Shane Gillis was fired from SNL in 2019 after his past use of racial and homophobic slurs on a podcast resurfaced
• Bowen Yang was accused of getting Gillis fired by a background actor, Michelle Best
• Yang responded to the accusation, stating that he did not get Gillis fired and that he wrote the sketch that Best appeared in
• Lorne Michaels has spoken out about the decision to fire Gillis, stating that it was NBC's choice and that he was "angry" over the termination
• Gillis has since apologized for his past remarks and has returned to host the show