Michael Che gave an embarrassing interview on the Today show as he tried to avoid talking about Shane Gillis’ controversial joke on Saturday evening live.
The “Weekend Update” host already knew he would be grilled by Gillis’ reaction and took to social media to joke about it.
“I have to do more press this week to promote the special. I wonder what all the damn questions are going to be about. Thanks so much Shane,” Che shared on Instagram.
Today Host Laura Jarrett asked Che if he saw the reaction to Gillis’ sexist joke, and he responded, “It’s comedy. It’s like you think it’s funny and some people don’t.”
Jarrett went on to ask if he laughed at the joke, and he responded, “Actually, I was at the cue cards, thinking about what I was going to say that was going to piss people off, so I didn’t even see it until the next day.”
RELATED: Dan Levy Slams Shane Gillis’ ‘SNL’ Monologue: ‘Without Voice, Something Like This Can Exist on Live National Television’
Unsatisfied with the response, Jarrett asked Che what he thought of the joke after hearing it, and the comedian said, “I didn’t think about it, honestly.”
“There’s so much going on. It’s really hard to see what everyone is doing, especially for me. I’m not what they call ‘good at my job,’ so I don’t pay attention to it,” he responded to questions about whether he saw the joke during rehearsals. “That’s why I’m focusing on ‘Update,’ because it’s not something I’m natural at, so I really, really have to work at it. I have to study it.”
Gillis hosted SNL on Saturday, October 10, and made a joke during his monologue that had everyone buzzing.
“I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women dress like whores now?” Gillis said on the late night show.
He continued: “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? These neon lights, they’re like artificial color bait. And the wrinkles go around the cheeks and all combine at the asshole. And don’t look, you’re not allowed to look. For real, don’t look because they’re filming. I’m in the background of about 10 TikToks right now.”
Following the interview on TodayChe spoke to Threads to clarify his position.
“Guys, I just want to make one thing very clear…I was NOT laughing,” he wrote. “Also, I NEVER laugh. NONE of this shit is funny to me. I haven’t really laughed at comedy in about 11 years, since I figured out how to do it. Even if I look like I’m laughing, I’m not really laughing. I’m just being polite.”
He would also add, “Please. Stop saying I hate women. I only hate six. (and THEY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING!) The other 4,049,999,994 are fine with me. Wear whatever you want. Squat nekkid!”
Watch Michael Che on the Today show in the video below.
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