Bowen Yang, a castmember on Saturday Night Live, recently responded to accusations made by comedian Michelle Best, claiming that he was responsible for getting Shane Gillis fired from the show in 2019. Gillis was let go from SNL after using racial and homophobic slurs on a podcast.
In a comment on an SNL Instagram post, Best accused Yang of playing a role in Gillis’ firing, to which Yang replied that he did not take part in the decision but mentioned that he wrote the sketch that Best was a background actor in.
Since joining SNL in 2018, Bowen Yang has been a prominent figure on the show, initially starting as a writer before transitioning to the on-air cast the following year. Despite the controversy surrounding Gillis’ departure, he returned to host the show last year and is set to host an upcoming episode with musical guest Tate McRae.
In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, SNL producer Lorne Michaels expressed anger over Gillis’ firing, noting that he believed Gillis had potential as a comedian. Michaels confirmed that the decision to let Gillis go was ultimately made by NBC, and he was disappointed with the outcome.
As the situation unfolds, Bowen Yang continues to showcase his talent on SNL and address any accusations made against him regarding Gillis’ departure from the show.
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