Comedian Shane Gillis accidentally used an expletive during a live Saturday Night Live sketch, prompting an unscripted moment that was later addressed by his co-stars.

During his recent hosting stint on Saturday Night Live, comedian Shane Gillis accidentally uttered an F-bomb while performing in a Dr. Seuss-inspired sketch. The slip occurred while Gillis was portraying a protective son defending his father from persistent pressure to eat green eggs and ham. Although the expletive was broadcast live, the show later muted the word when posting the sketch to social media.

The On-Air Mishap

In the sketch, Gillis played Zachary, a character suspicious of Sam-I-Am, played by Andrew Dismukes. While attempting to stop Dismukes from pressuring his father to eat, Gillis blurted out, "He said he doesn’t f—–g like them!" before immediately covering his mouth. The error appeared to be an off-script moment that was not caught by censors during the live broadcast.

Incorporating the Error

Cast member Mikey Day, who played the father figure in the sketch, incorporated the blunder into the performance. During a later argument, Day told Gillis’ character, "You’re a loser, and you said a bad word!" Gillis acknowledged the mistake in character, responding, "Yes, I did." The sketch also featured dialogue about the characters' personal lives, including references to a $9,000 gift card scam and the father's failed marriage.

History with the Show

This appearance marked Gillis’ third time hosting the NBC series. He was originally hired as a featured cast member in 2019 but was fired shortly after when past podcast clips containing racist and homophobic remarks surfaced. He returned to host in February 2024 and again in March 2025.