Martha Plimpton urges Lorne Michaels to give women more say at ‘SNL’
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Martha Plimpton slammed “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels over Shane Gillis’ “really f–king stupid” monologue over the weekend.The “Goonies” alum told her Instagram followers on Tuesday that Michaels, 81, “needs more women” around him “making decisions.”The actress, 55, explained that she watched a documentary on Monday about the NBC sketch show — and noticed a particular scene during which individuals gathered “in Lorne’s office in between the rehearsal taping and the live show.”Martha Plimpton weighed in on Shane Gillis’ controversial “Saturday Night Live” monologue via Instagram on Tuesday. marthaplimpton/InstagramThe actress called the comedian’s remarks “really f–king stupid” — before taking aim at “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels (pictured above on June 17.) Getty ImagesShe explained, “A bunch of people gather [there] to decide what’s gonna get cut and what’s gonna make it to air.”Noting that the project, which she did not name, was not shot “recently” but “maybe three years ago,” Plimtpon said, “It was all white men in that room deciding. All white men. And maybe even all straight white men.”The Tony nominee clarified, “I don’t know the proclivities of everyone in that room. It’s possible maybe one or two of them are gay, but I don’t know. The point is, [there were] no women, no people of color. … They make this decision, and it’s all white guys.”The “East of Eden” star, who plays brothel madam Faye on the hit show, also railed against Gillis, 38, for his joke about women “dress[ing] like whores” at the gym.The “East of Eden” star (pictured above on the show with Florence Pugh) claimed Michaels “needs more women” in the room making decisions. NetflixPlimpton (pictured above in October 2025) recalled seeing a documentary showing the 81-year-old making decisions surrounded by “all white men.” WireImagePlimpton said she “never heard of” the comedian prior to his hosting gig — but that he “deserve[d] a spanking from his mama” for his remarks comparing female gymgoers’ shorts to “artificial bait.”Reps for Gillis and Michaels did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.Michaels created “SNL” in 1975 and has spoken out against backlash regarding cast diversity over the years.In 2013, he told the Associated Press, “It’s not like it’s not a priority for us [to cast a Black, female comedian]. It will happen. I’m sure it will happen.”Michaels insisted to NPR two years later that “SNL” has been “breaking those barriers from the very beginning” — but “it’s more complicated than putting together a rainbow coalition.”She said there were “no women, no people of color.” (Pictured above: Plimpton on Sept. 30.) GC ImagesThe “Goonies” star (pictured above in the 1985 movie) quipped that Gillis “deserve[d] a spanking from his mama.” ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett CollectionThis weekend’s controversial monologue, notably, has been slammed by a slew of celebs, with former “SNL” cast member Ego Nwodim trolling Gillis on social media Monday.The 38-year-old posted an Instagram Story selfie at the gym, captioned, “Whore reporting for duty.”Nwodim went on to share a photo of her breakfast as she ate her “30 grams of protein after heauxing.”Meanwhile, country singer Maren Morris flipped off Gillis in an Instagram Reel requesting he “leave [her] gym short wedgie out of it.”“Schitt’s Creek” alum Dan Levy, for his part, posted a lengthy video dubbing Gillis a “misogynist.”The comedian, notably, joked in his monologue Saturday about women “dress[ing] like whores at the gym.” Will Heath/NBC via Getty ImagesHe has yet to respond to rampant backlash about the comment. Cayden Reich/NBC via Getty ImagesThe “speechless” actor, 43, said, “The more that men objectify women in the media, the more that other men see them as objects and treat them as objects. They are not objects.”Bobby Bones, however, praised Gillis’ bit on Sunday’s episode of his “25 Whistles” podcast.“He said [the shorts] looks like the color of an artificial bait, artificial lure. And I thought that was so funny,” the radio personality told listeners. “If you guys don’t get that joke … you’re probably not from the South or you’ve probably never been fishing.”
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