Michael Che's Awkward Interview on Shane Gillis' Reaction to 'SNL' Joke: 'Honestly Didn't Think About It'

Michael Che gave an awkward interview on the Today Show while trying not to talk about Shane Gillis' controversial prank on Saturday Night Live. The "Weekend Update" host already knew she was pissed off by Gillis' backlash and joked about it on social media. "This week we need more press to promote [...]

Michael Che gave an awkward interview on the Today Show as he tried to avoid talking about Shane Gillis' controversial prank on Saturday Night Live.

The "Weekend Update" host already knew she was pissed off by Gillis' backlash and joked about it on social media.

Che shared on Instagram: "Should be doing more press for the promo special this week. I don't know what any questions are about. Thank you so much Shane."

Che was asked by Today show host Laura Jarrett if she'd seen the backlash to Gillis' sexist joke, and she said, "It's comedy. It's like you think it's funny and some people don't."

Jarrett went on to ask him if he laughed at the joke, and he said, "I actually thought about what I was going to say that it was going to upset people, so I didn't even see it until the next day." Watch on Deadline

Displeased with the response, Jarrett asked what he thought after hearing the joke, and the comedian said, "I honestly didn't think of that."

Asked if he saw the prank during practice, he said: "It happens a lot. It's really hard to see what everybody's doing, especially for me. I'm not what they say 'I'm good at,' so I don't pay attention to it." That's why I'm focusing on "updating" because it's not something I'm a natural at, so I have to really, really work on it. I have to study it."

Gillis hosted SNL on Saturday, Oct. 10, and during her monologue, she joked that she had everyone buzzing.

I haven't been to the gym in ages, I didn't know women only dress like whores now? Gillis said on the late night show.

She continued, "Look, I'm sorry, there's no way to describe [it]. See? I've seen it. See the shorts? Those neons, like fake bait. And the wrinkles go around the cheeks and they all blend together because they don't let you be looked at. I'm on 10 TikToks right now in the background.

After being interviewed on Today, Che took to Threads to clarify his position.

"Guys, I just want to make one thing perfectly clear ... I didn't laugh," she wrote. “Also, I never laugh. None of this shit is funny to me. I actually haven't laughed at a comedy in about 11 years since I figured out how to do it. Even though I look like I'm laughing, I'm really not. I'm just being polite."

He also adds, "Please. Stop saying I hate women. I only hate 6 of them. (And they know what they did!) 4,049,999,994 more is fine with me. Wear whatever you want.

Watch Michael Che on today's show in the video below.

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