Michael Che shrugs off Shane Gillis 'SNL' gym monologue backlash saying 'that's comedy' in awkward TV grilling

Michael Che squirmed through a Today show interview after host Laura Jarrett pressed him on Shane Gillis' controversial SNL monologue, in which Gillis joked that female gymgoers 'just dress like w****s now.' Che, 43, had already drawn attention by posting on Instagram that he dreaded the press questions coming his way, writing 'thanks a lot shane.' Jarrett confronted him with his own post live on air, prompting an uncomfortable exchange.

Che claimed he never even saw Gillis' monologue live, saying he was busy at the cue cards 'thinking about what I was gonna say that was gonna make people upset.'

When pushed further, Che refused to distance himself from the joke, saying his own experience delivering controversial material alongside Colin Jost meant he couldn't 'criticise anybody.'

Gillis' ex-girlfriend also publicly mocked the comedian in the wake of the monologue, adding to the mounting backlash against the SNL host.