Bowen Yang Refutes Claim He Was Responsible for Shane Gillis' 2019 SNL Firing

The SNL cast member responded to accusations from a background actor, clarifying he had no role in the comedian's dismissal over offensive remarks.

Bowen Yang addressed accusations from Michelle Best, an SNL background actor, who claimed he caused Shane Gillis' 2019 firing from the show.
Yang denied the allegations in an Instagram comment, stating he had no involvement in Gillis' dismissal and referencing a sketch Best had participated in.
Shane Gillis was fired from SNL in 2019 after past racist and homophobic remarks surfaced, leading to backlash and NBC's decision to terminate his contract.
Lorne Michaels, SNL's creator, later revealed that Gillis' firing was a decision made by NBC, expressing disappointment over the situation.
Gillis has since returned to host SNL twice, most recently on March 1, 2025, with musical guest Tate McRae.