New SNL Hire Shane Gillis Also Said Racist Stuff About Andrew Yang

This past week, SNL announced the hiring of its three newest cast members, including the show's former writer and first Chinese-American cast member, Bowen Yang. Shortly after the announcement though, footage leaked showing another new hire, comedian Shane Gillis, repeatedly making homophobic and racist remarks on a since-deleted episode of his podcast, Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast. The comments sparked a wave of backlash, including from other comedians.

It turns out that Gillis's use of anti-Asian racial slurs wasn't a one-time event. VICE has found another recording where Gillis makes the same comments, but this time about Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Gillis has since tweeted out a quasi-apology, saying, "I'm a comedian who pushes boundaries. Sometimes I miss." He added, "I'm happy to apologize to anyone who's actually offended by anything I've said."

Yang, for his part, responded directly to Gillis, writing, "I prefer comedy that makes people think and doesn’t take cheap shots. But I’m happy to sit down and talk with you if you’d like." In a comment directed to his followers, he wrote, "For the record, I do not think he should lose his job. We would benefit from being more forgiving rather than punitive. We are all human."

Yang added, "I’ve been called chink and gook any number of times in my life. It can be extraordinarily hurtful to feel like you are somehow not part of the only country you have ever known. I have certainly felt that - the churning sense of alienation, anger and marginalization."

Meanwhile, shortly after SNL announced that Bowen Yang would become a cast member, Andrew Yang tweeted his congratulations, adding, "Hope you play me on SNL." Bowen replied, "Freedom dividend me d*ddy!!!!!!"

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Originally Appeared on GQ