Actor and comedian Rob Schneider gave Shane Gillis a show of support after the newest “Saturday Night Live” cast member was abruptly fired from the show.
At a time when it seems the word has forgotten how to laugh or be forgiving, Schneider offered Gillis some perspective in a tweet saying he was “sorry” that he had been chosen to join the cast of the long-running show in an “era of culture unforgiveness.”
Schneider also correctly pointed out the “risk” it takes to be a comedian and deliver material that might offend or not resonate with an audience. The kind of risk most network execs likely would never take.
Gillis was fired from the late-night NBC show after a video surfaced of him using a racial slur during a podcast discussion about a Chinatown neighborhood with another comedian.
“As a former SNL cast member I am sorry that you had the misfortune of being a cast member during this era of cultural unforgiveness where comedic misfires are subject to the intolerable inquisition of those who never risked bombing on stage themselves,” Schneider, an “SNL” alumnus, tweeted Monday.
Dear @Shanemgillis
As a former SNL cast member I am sorry that you had the misfortune of being a cast member during this era of cultural unforgiveness where comedic misfires are subject to the intolerable inquisition of those who never risked bombing on stage themselves.— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) September 16, 2019
Gillis had admitted that his past was filled with “a lot of bad misses” but he had not intentionally meant to offend anyone as he initially responded to the surfaced video and the backlash.
— Shane Gillis (@Shanemgillis) September 13, 2019
But NBC and “SNL” officials were apparently not satisfied and announced that Gillis would not be joining the show while calling the comedian’s comments “offensive, hurtful and unacceptable.”
“After talking with Shane Gillis, we have decided that he will not be joining SNL,” a spokesperson for the show said in a statement on behalf of “SNL” creator and longtime executive producer, Lorne Michaels, according to NBC News.
“We were not aware of his prior remarks that have surfaced over the past few days. The language he used is offensive, hurtful and unacceptable. We are sorry that we did not see these clips earlier, and that our vetting process was not up to our standard,” the spokesperson said.
Gillis addressed the firing in a tweet on Monday.
— Shane Gillis (@Shanemgillis) September 16, 2019
Schneider followed up on Twitter to address the “SNL” decision.
I think a suspension would be appropriate for someone who is part of an organization that says something terrible in a podcast from a year earlier. An honest,
sincere apology and also accepting it seems appropriate as well. Destroying someone does not.— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) September 17, 2019
The actor added his :last thought” on the issue Tuesday, noting that comedy does not excuse racism.
Last thought on this @Shanemgillis
There’s a difference between exposing truths through Free Speech and just being ugly.
It’s not okay to say racist things under the guise of comedy. Just because you have a mic in your hand doesn’t make the racist things you say any less racist.— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) September 17, 2019
Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang commented on the NBC decision over the weekend, tweeting about forgiveness.
For the record, I do not think he should lose his job. We would benefit from being more forgiving rather than punitive. We are all human.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) September 14, 2019
But I took the time to watch and listen to Shane’s work. He does not strike me as malignant or evil. He strikes me as a still-forming comedian from central Pennsylvania who made some terrible and insensitive jokes and comments.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) September 15, 2019
The 2020 contender whose parents came to the U.S. from Taiwan also noted that Gillis had reached out to him and the two would soon be meeting up.
I understand those who have another point of view on this. Obviously the folks at NBC are the real decision-makers. But if I can forgive Shane, as the guy he called a slur, I hope others can as well. I also hope Shane is open to learning. We are all human, we’re all fallible. ?
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) September 15, 2019
Shane Gillis reached out. Looks like we will be sitting down together soon.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) September 16, 2019
While social media had weighed in from the start on the Gillis firing, a fresh round of reaction came in to Schneider’s pointed calling out of today’s over-the-top “PC nonsense” and cancel culture, something Yang referred to as well.
I think we have, as a society, become excessively punitive and vindictive concerning people’s statements and expressions we disagree with or find offensive. I don’t think people should be losing jobs unless it’s truly beyond the pale and egregious.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) September 15, 2019
I’m trying to figure out how Richard Pryor, John Belushi, George Carlin or Lenny Bruce would have responded to this kind of thing?
— Rani ~ Science Skeptic ? (@MilitaryRosary) September 16, 2019
SNL has sucked for a while now. But this PC nonsense has to stop. People are going to forget how to laugh
— jason winchester (@jaybay82) September 16, 2019
these PC scolds are absolutely destroying comedy. but, the more comedians who are true to themselves and cross the lines are the ones who will be legends.
— Rani ~ Science Skeptic ? (@MilitaryRosary) September 16, 2019
PC will kill comedy. How could Don Rickles have had a career? Pryor? We are lucky to have Chappelle in this era..and Spade, you..etc.
— Tracy LaMiere (@LamiereT) September 16, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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