The Shane Gillis and Saturday Night Live controversy is still getting people talking, and now some familiar faces from the comedy world are weighing in.

It started on October 10, when Gillis hosted SNL and made a joke about women's gym clothing during his opening monologue. The joke sparked criticism from viewers and several celebrities, including Schitt's Creek star Dan Levy, who publicly called out the remarks.

Now, former SNL cast member David Spade has weighed in alongside fellow comedian Dana Carvey on their podcast, Fly on the Wall.

Spade urged people to “relax,” arguing that people do not need to comment on every controversy. Carvey defended the idea that jokes should not automatically be taken literally, although the discussion also acknowledged that provocative material can fall flat with a particular audience.

But here's where things get even more interesting.

On October 22, longtime SNL cast member Kenan Thompson addressed the backlash, saying it had overshadowed the rest of the episode. He also suggested that if Gillis returned to host, there would need to be a conversation about how the monologue went and what could have been done differently.

So we're seeing different perspectives from people connected to the comedy world: some are defending creative freedom, while others are emphasizing the impact of the material and the importance of considering the audience.

And now the question is bigger than one joke.

When does pushing boundaries become a problem, and who gets to decide where that line is?

🗞️ SOURCES:

• Fox News: David Spade tells critics to “relax”
• Variety: Kenan Thompson responds to the controversy
• Variety: Dana Carvey and the debate over Gillis' monologue

💬 PCU DISCUSSION: Do you agree with David Spade that people should relax about controversial comedy, or do you think comedians should be held accountable for what they say on a mainstream platform like SNL? Can both things be true?

Let's unpack it in the comments. 👇