Martha Plimpton Criticizes Shane Gillis’ SNL Monologue, Calls for Spanking
Martha Plimpton publicly criticized Shane Gillis’ opening monologue on Saturday Night Live, calling it “really stupid” and saying he “deserves a spanking.”

In Brief
- •Martha Plimpton publicly criticized Shane Gillis’ opening monologue on Saturday Night Live, calling it “really stupid” and saying he “deserves a spanking.”
- •Plimpton highlighted concerns about the lack of diversity in the SNL decision‑making room, noting that the cut‑room was “all white men” and calling for more women in the process.
- •Gillis’ monologue included a misogynistic joke about women’s gym attire, which sparked widespread outrage on social media.
- •The backlash was echoed by other comedians, including Dan Levy, who condemned the joke as misogyny.
Why It Matters
The incident underscores the ongoing scrutiny of comedy shows for misogynistic content and the importance of diverse decision‑making teams in media production. It also illustrates how quickly social media can amplify criticism, influencing public perception and potentially affecting a show’s viewership and brand reputation.
Key Details
- Monologue Date
- Saturday night
- Monologue Content
- Misogynistic joke about women’s gym attire
- Critic
- Martha Plimpton
- Other Critic
- Dan Levy
- Show
- Saturday Night Live
Context & Background
Saturday Night Live has a long history of controversial monologues, and its executive producer Lorne Michaels has faced criticism for the lack of diversity in the show's decision‑making rooms.
Original Reporting & Sources
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