# Gym attendance hits record highs as Shane Gillis SNL joke sparks debate

> Shane Gillis' SNL joke about women's gym clothes draws backlash as U.S. gym membership reaches 81 million record.
- Title: Gym attendance hits record highs as Shane Gillis SNL joke…
- Summary: Shane Gillis' SNL joke about women's gym clothes draws backlash as U.S. gym membership reaches 81 million record. Comedian Shane Gillis' SNL remark on…
- Keywords: shane gillis, saturday night live, gym attendance, fitness culture, comedy, women's athletic clothing, snl joke, news, politics, world, Gym, attendance
- Source: Straight Arrow — https://san.com/cc/as-gym-attendance-hits-all-time-highs-shane-gillis-snl-joke-touches-a-nerve
- Published: 2026-10-13T17:15:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: shane gillis, saturday night live, gym attendance, fitness culture, comedy, women's athletic clothing, snl joke, news, politics, world
## SNL joke controversy
Comedian Shane Gillis joked about women's gym clothing during Saturday Night Live monologue.

> Look, I'm sorry, there's no other way to describe [it]
## Gym membership record
81 million Americans held gym or fitness facility memberships in 2025, a 5.2% increase from previous year.
## Celebrity backlash
Dan Levy called Gillis' comments misogynistic, stating women wearing shorts doesn't make them whores.

> Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores
## Social media reaction
Ego Nwodim shared Instagram post with caption 'Whore reporting for duty' after Gillis' joke.

> Whore reporting for duty
## Fitness culture shift
More women are entering fitness culture as gym attendance reaches record highs in 2025.
## Functional workout clothing
Women wear fitted shorts for comfort, movement and form monitoring during exercise.
## Industry response
Sportek claims tight workout clothes prevent injuries and improve performance through mechanical function.

> mechanical function to prevent injuries or improve performance
## Key takeaway

Comedian Shane Gillis' SNL remark on women's gym clothing sparked criticism from celebrities and fans as U.S. gym membership hit 81 million in 2025.