Racist jokes by new SNL cast member Shane Gillis prompt backlash — and a non-apology about “risks”

On Thursday, Saturday Night Live celebrated a milestone: hiring Bowen Yang as the first Asian cast member in SNL history. Yang, who is openly gay, is one of three new featured players — alongside Chloe Fineman and Shane Gillis — joining the show’s roster for its upcoming 45th season after serving as a staff writer last year. By Thursday evening, though, the excitement was dampened by a report that Gillis has a history of making racist and homophobic jokes and other remarks.

Freelance journalist Seth Simons tweeted that during a September 2018 episode of the comedian’s podcast Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast — available to watch and listen to on YouTube — Gillis and co-host Matt McCusker dedicated a pocket of time to discussing why they dislike Chinese and Asian people, Chinese food, and Chinatown (it’s unclear which specific Chinatown they’re referring to):