Bowen Yang Reflects on Shane Gillis’s SNL Return and Moving Past Controversy

Bowen Yang, a trailblazing comedian, made history as the first Chinese American and third openly gay cast member on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL). Yang's entry into SNL in 2019 came alongside Shane Gillis, a controversial figure whose podcast had previously featured racially insensitive remarks about Asians. This timing stirred significant controversy, given the sensitive nature of the comments and Yang’s Asian heritage.

Gillis’s past comments quickly became a focal point in the debate over cancel culture. Despite his apology, the situation led to his termination from SNL before he even appeared on the show. Yang recounted in a recent interview with The New Yorker receiving an apology from Gillis just before they were set to appear on SNL. Although Yang was reassured by some and received sympathetic messages, the atmosphere was tense. Yang described his conversation with Gillis, which ended on a neutral note before Gillis was officially let go.

Five years later, in February 2024, Gillis returned to SNL as a host. This move was met with some backlash, but Yang, who had shared a hug with Gillis on stage, expressed a willingness to move past the incident. In an interview with Variety, Yang emphasized that both he and Gillis had since achieved substantial accomplishments in their careers, suggesting that it was time to let go of the past.

Yang expressed curiosity about Gillis’s hosting stint, viewing it as a potential opportunity for closure. He hoped that their shared history would no longer overshadow their individual successes or future projects, demonstrating a mature approach to a challenging period in both their careers.