SNL Fires New Cast Member, Shane Gillis, Over Racial And Homophobic Slurs In His Comedy.
LEMON: Saturday Night Live, SNL, inspired one of its most recent hires. Shane Gillis, is his name. Fired him just days after video of the comedian making bigoted and homophobic comments came too light. But I want you to listen to these brand new comments tonight from Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang himself. A target of Gillis' comedy.</s>ANDREW YANG, AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR AND PHILANTHROPIST, 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I thought if I could set an example that, you know, we can forgive people. Particularly in an instance where in my mind it was in a comedic context or gray area. I thought it would be positive. But you know, obviously it's in NBC's hands and now they made the decision to make.</s>LEMON: OK. So, he's in the forgiving mood there. SNL was it right to fire Gillis? Was it? Or has the cancel culture gone too far. Is it the same thing? Can you compare this (inaudible) culture? Let's discuss now, comedian, former SNL staffer Dean Obeidallah. Dean, thank you so much. We have a little bit of a delay. Dean is in Atlantic City. So, Dean, look, the presidential hopeful Andrew Yang, you saw him. He also didn't want Gillis -- he said Gillis should not had been fired. You used to work at SNL's production staff. You say he shouldn't have been fired as well. So, how would you like to see this handled?</s>DEAN OBEIDALLAH, FORMER SNL STAFFER: To me, and to be clear, first of all I don't know how he got hired as part of the big thing. My friends at SNL, there's a thing called Google. You should use it. Google people you are going to hire, because the guy, his pod cast which is just from last year. Now I think what Andrew Yang's point and my point as well, I wrote about it for CNN, is not whether he should be fired or not. It's the idea that if we say anything wrong in society today. For one comment, people want you fired. They want you ostracized from society. My big picture question here is, is that helpful? I supposed to encouraging people to evolve for the better which was we all want. In the case of Shane Gillis, it start out as one comment that was seen as anti-Asian, then we found out his, he was sexist comments, anti-Muslim comments, and the LGBTQ comments and we learn today that two Philadelphia comedy clubs had stopped using him because of his xenophobic and racist stuff. SNL could have easily found that out and avoided this entire situation. To take you step back, Don, the question is, are we overreacting as a society when anyone says anything that is offensive. And I think at times we do that. At times, it's appropriate, other times it's too far. Too far.</s>LEMON: Yes. So, you know, let's put the -- the comments -- we won't put them up. But he said some very disparaging things and used the word for Chinese people. Just so we know what people, what it was and making fun in an accent or what have you. He has also made you know, homophobic comments about Jed (inaudible) and Chris (inaudible), neither who I believe is gay. And then on and on. And as you said, this was just last year. And SNL admitted like they are vetting process could have been better. So, there are going to be people at home we're saying, listen, Dean, you're going to call people out when they say anti-Muslim things, or anti-black things or whatever, but not this person. This person shouldn't be fired?</s>OBEIDALLAH: Well, he actually did say anti-Muslim stuff as I pointed out in my CNN article. And for me the question was, look at -- we're adults, right. Dom, we know when someone is being playful, we know when they are being hateful. In the case of Shane, I don't know the young man. And Andrew Yang's point two days ago was, he would sit down with him. Let's talk to him. Let's find out if he's truly a raving bigot or someone who can be reached. And that is my big question. This guy today apparently he met with SNL. Whatever conversation they had was not enough for them at SNL. My old friends there to want him to work with them on the 17th floor. We worked long hours together, and I could tell you, these comments he has said would have made his life extremely uncomfortable over there. So, look, they fired him, I get it. I'm telling them the bigger picture, let's take a step back sometimes.</s>LEMON: Dean, yes, listen, I got to say ahead this conversation earlier with Chris. I think I'm on board with what you're saying. And I know a lot of people will be upset by that. But I agree that this whole cancel culture, I really hate it. And it's just like just -- it's just the -- a few people who are the loudest voices mostly on social media. I think every single instance has to be judged on its own merits and it shouldn't be one blanket thing, let's fire everybody. Dean, thank you. I'll see you next time. I appreciate it.</s>OBEIDALLAH: Exactly. And each person judge equally, exactly. Thank you, Don.</s>LEMON: Thank you. We'll be right back.