Lorne Michaels told The Wall Street Journal that he was “angry” when Shane Gillis was fired from “Saturday Night Live” in 2019 after offensive jokes he made on a podcast resurfaced online, including jokes that included racial slurs about Asian people.

“He said something stupid, but it was blown up to the end of the world,” Michaels said. “I was angry. I thought, ‘You haven’t seen yet what we’re going to do, and what I’m going to try to bring out in him, because I thought he was the real deal.’

Michaels said it was NBC’s decision to fire Gillis and not his own, adding, “That was very strong from the people in charge. And obviously I wasn’t on that side, but I understood it.”

Gillis never became an SNL cast member, but he did return to the show in February 2024 as a host during season 49. The decision was controversial given the comedian’s firing five years earlier, but Michaels remained in contact throughout Gilis. years as his popularity continued to rise.

Michaels told The Hollywood Reporter earlier in September that Gillis’ firing was a “bad time,” saying the comedian “got beat up for things he did years earlier and the overreaction to that was so stunning.” NBC’s decision to fire Gillis was partly due to advertisers threatening not to support “SNL,” with Michaels explaining, “200 Asian companies were going to boycott the show.”

“It was like a mania,” Michaels added at the time. “And the speed of the cancellation — and a lot of people deserved to be disliked — it just didn’t quite become the reign of terror, but it was like judging everyone for every position they have on every issue, instead of, ‘ Are they good at what they do?’”

In his interview with The Wall Street Journal, Michaels also claimed that “SNL” doesn’t take sides when it comes to politics. The show is often seen as more favorable to the Democratic party, especially during the presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Michaels doesn’t see it that way. He said he is a registered independent voter and the show’s approach to political satire is two-pronged.

“There is stupidity on both sides. Our job is to make fun of it,” Michaels said.

“SNL” is currently airing its 50th anniversary season. A new episode featuring host John Mulaney and musical guest Chappell Roan will air live on November 2. To read more from Michaels and the cast of “SNL,” visit The Wall Street Journal’s website.