Following Shane Gillis’ appearance on Saturday Night Live over the weekend, social media has been awash with women sharing their gym outfits to reclaim the joke – and that seemingly now includes the comedian’s ex-girlfriend Grace Brassel. Gillis is facing backlash from all angles after his SNL monologue, most notably for a comment he made while joking about getting in shape. “I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now,” he said. “Look, I’m sorry, there’s no other way to describe [it]. Have you seen it? I’ve seen it. The shorts. Have you seen the shorts? Those neon… They’re like artificial bait-coloured, and the wrinkles go around the cheeks and all combine at the butthole. And don’t look! You’re not allowed to look.” The joke has sparked a wave of backlash, with many complaining that it simply isn’t funny. Industry figures have also chimed in, including Schitt’s Creek co-creator and star Dan Levy. On Instagram, he wrote, “Women wearing short shorts to the gym does not make them whores. It makes the men calling them whores misogynists.” Women are showing off their gym shorts in response Social media is also filled with posts from women reclaiming the line by sharing their cute gym outfits. That includes content creator Grace Brassel, who previously dated Gillis for around a year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 👸🏼grace brassel (@gracebrassel) Earlier this week, Brassel shared an Instagram Story disguised as a video that wouldn’t load. But tapping on it actually redirected followers to Levy’s criticism of Gillis’ joke. While that is no longer up on her Instagram page, Brassel has since posted a “full body workout for h*es”. In the video, she says, “Here’s my super quick, full body workout as a big, old h*e”. After showing off her actual routine, she wraps up by showing off her gym shorts. And she’s been joined by a whole host of gym girlies showing off their “whore shorts” online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abbie | Fitness ✨🏋🏼♀️🏃🏽♀️ (@abbiejfit_) As one woman said on TikTok, “Just showing off my wh0re shorts. Because women obviously have to dress to men’s standards and can only wear what men approve of. Right right rightttttt. We’ll wear what we want thanks.” Another shared a series of clips and wrote, “Just me and my whore shorts.” Actors have also chimed in, with Emily Meade tagging Shane Gillis in a post and saying: “Women dress like whores at the gym? Okay, well, men dress like rapists just by wearing a t-shirt and jeans. So…” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emily Meade (@need4meade) And SNL alum Cecily Strong posted an image of her gym outfit, writing, “On my way to Pilates in my new slutty ass orange shoes and rainbow socks. Might sell sex on the way not sure.” The backlash has raised questions about SNL itself This is just the latest in Gillis’ controversial history with SNL, having been hired and subsequently fired as a cast member back in 2019 after resurfaced jokes revealed him using anti-Asian and homophobic slurs on his podcast. He did return as host in 2024, where his monologue included jokes about race and Down syndrome. His second hosting stint in 2025 also sparked criticism, particularly over a joke about white men questioning women’s sexual history with Black men. Martha Plimpton on Shane Gillis’ SNL monologue: “f–king stupid” and he deserves a spanking from his mama. The internet is still split.#SNL #ShaneGillis pic.twitter.com/gf3W5t8uEh — Andray (@andrayofficial) October 13, 2026 And now, the conversation has gone beyond Gillis himself, with actress Martha Plimpton questioning who gets to make decisions behind the scenes at SNL. In an Instagram video, Plimpton recalled watching a documentary that showed SNL creator Lorne Michaels surrounded by white men as decisions were being made about the show. “It was all white men in the room deciding. All white men,” she said, adding. “I think Lorne needs some more women in that room making decisions. Don’t you? Yeah, I think so.” For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Featured image credit: NBC/Instagram/@gracebrassel Post navigation Next story
