NEW: 'SNL' drops new cast member Shane Gillis after video surfaces of comedian using Asian slur, homophobic language.
A spokesperson said in a statement on behalf of"SNL" executive producer Lorne Michaels that the comedy sketch show would not be going forward with Gillis for Season 45. The statement apologized to viewers that the"SNL" vetting process"was not up to our standard."
"Saturday Night Live" airs on NBC, a division of NBCUniversal, which is also the parent company of NBC News. "We want SNL to have a variety of voices and points of view within the show, and we hired Shane on the strength of his talent as comedian and his impressive audition for SNL," the statement said."We were not aware of his prior remarks that have surfaced over the past few days. The language he used is offensive, hurtful and unacceptable."
Gillis said in a statement to his Twitter account Monday that he was"a comedian that was funny enough to get SNL. That can't be taken away." "Of course I wanted an opportunity to prove myself on SNL, but I understand it would be too much of a distraction," Gillis said."I respect the decision they made."
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