Inde Navarrette used her Saturday Night Live hosting debut to take a pointed swipe at Shane Gillis, turning his controversial comments about women's gym outfits into a joke of her own. The Obsession actress delivered the punchline during the show's Halloween episode on 31 October, referencing her upcoming Marvel role as Rogue in the upcoming X-Men movie while sarcastically describing what she wears to exercise.
'I know it's really important for Marvel that you get really fit, so I've been working out a lot,' Navarrette told the audience. She then added: 'Every morning, I put on my little whore outfit and I hit the gym.'
The remark prompted laughter from the Studio 8H audience and served as a callback to Gillis's controversial October 10 SNL monologue. The exchange gave the actress an opportunity to address the criticism with a joke, and brought the debate over Gillis's remarks back into the spotlight, nearly three weeks after his joke prompted criticism from celebrities and former SNL cast members.
An 'SNL' Punchline to an 'SNL' Controversy
Navarrette introduced the joke while discussing her casting as Rogue in Marvel's upcoming X-Men film. The actress explained that preparing for the superhero role required her to get into shape, providing the setup for the reference to Gillis's comments.
Her monologue began with jokes about her breakout horror film Obsession and the similarities between herself and her character, Nikki. She then pointed towards her boyfriend, Nick Aiello, who was sitting in the audience bound and gagged to a chair as part of another joke about their supposedly relaxed relationship.
The actress subsequently shifted to her Marvel casting and the physical training involved in preparing for Rogue.
The timing made the reference particularly clear. Gillis had hosted SNL on 10 October marking his third time presenting the NBC comedy programme. During his opening monologue, he complained that women at gyms now 'dress like whores; and singled out tight, short workout clothing.
He continued by joking that men were not supposed to look because women were recording themselves for social media. His remarks became a major talking point after the broadcast, with critics questioning why women's exercise clothing had become the subject of a derogatory joke on national television.
Shane Gillis' Gym Joke
Gillis's October monologue generated criticism beyond social media, with several entertainers publicly challenging his characterisation of women who wear fitted workout clothes.
Schitt's Creek star Dan Levy was among the most vocal critics. In an Instagram video, Levy rejected the suggestion that women wearing short gym shorts should be described as 'whores', arguing that the insult reflected more poorly on the men making the comments than on the women being discussed.
'Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores,' Levy said, adding that men who used the term were the ones displaying misogynistic attitudes. He also expressed disbelief that the joke had been broadcast during a live national television programme.
Former SNL cast members also joined the criticism. Ego Nwodim posted a gym selfie with a sarcastic caption referencing Gillis's language, while Cecily Strong shared an Instagram Story joking about her own workout clothing. Their posts turned the comedian's remarks into a recurring target for parody among people associated with the programme.
Navarrette Hosting Debut with Abrams as Musical Guest
The Halloween episode marked Navarrette's first time hosting Saturday Night Live. The 25-year-old actress, who was best known for a role in CW's Superman & Lois, gained wider recognition this year through her role in the horror film Obsession, in which she played Nikki.
The Halloween broadcast also featured Gracie Abrams as musical guest. The singer performed 'Hit the Wall' and 'Here You Come, There You Go', while the episode opened with Tom Hanks returning as David S. Pumpkins alongside Bobby Moynihan.
Navarrette's joke was brief, but its timing gave it a clear connection to the criticism surrounding Gillis's previous hosting appearance. Rather than delivering a lengthy statement about the comedian, she used the language of his original joke to turn the criticism back on him. The moment also demonstrated how SNL personalities have continued addressing the controversy through humour, even after the original episode ended.
