‘Obsession’ Star Inde Navarrette Takes a Pointed Swipe at Shane Gillis in Her ‘SNL’ Hosting Debut
Inde Navarrette is having a breakout year. The actress earned wide praise for her performance as Nikki in Curry Barker’s horror hit ‘Obsession’, which became one of the biggest box office surprises of the year with about $514 million worldwide.
Her momentum has only continued. In August, Marvel Studios announced at D23 that Navarrette will play Rogue in its upcoming ‘X-Men’ reboot from director Jake Schreier, set to open in theaters on May 5, 2028.
On October 31, Navarrette made her hosting debut on ‘Saturday Night Live’ for the show’s Halloween episode. She used part of her opening monologue to respond to a joke from fellow host Shane Gillis.
Navarrette talked about preparing to play Rogue, explaining that Marvel expects its stars to get in serious shape, so she’s been working out a lot. She then delivered a punchline about the outfit she wears to the gym each morning, reusing the same derogatory term Gillis had used, and the studio audience burst out laughing.
Inde Navarrette makes a jab at Shane Gillis during her SNL monologue: “I know it’s really important for Marvel that you get really fit, so I’ve been working out a lot, so every morning I put on my little whore outfit and I hit the gym.” https://t.co/PbPEe7L55j
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 1, 2026
The moment quickly spread online, with outlets including Page Six and TheWrap describing it as a clear swipe at Gillis. Gillis hosted ‘SNL’ for the 3rd time on October 10. During his monologue, he joked about returning to the gym and discovering that women’s workout clothes had changed, using a derogatory term to describe how women dress there.
He also complained about revealing shorts and told the audience not to stare because people are filming. Critics called the joke sexist, and the bit sparked plenty of discussion online. The same episode drew attention for another reason. Gillis accidentally swore live during a ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ sketch and broke character.
‘X-MEN’ star Inde Navarrette for SNL. https://t.co/s2DUfqiNjt
— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) November 1, 2026
Navarrette isn’t the only one who has responded. ‘Schitt’s Creek’ creator Dan Levy shared an Instagram video calling the joke misogynistic, arguing that the problem wasn’t women’s gym clothes but men calling them derogatory names.
Former ‘SNL’ cast member Ego Nwodim also joined the conversation, posting a gym selfie that played on the same term. ‘SNL UK’ ‘Weekend Update’ anchor Ania Magliano reportedly took aim at Gillis on that show’s October 17 episode as well.
Inde Navarrette makes her SNL hosting debut. https://t.co/FaOtGr7HLe
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 1, 2026
Navarrette’s monologue was just one highlight of the night. Tom Hanks returned for the cold open as David S. Pumpkins, his famously ineffective Halloween character. For Navarrette, the episode was a chance to show off her comedic side after a year defined by intense horror. Her quick, confident delivery suggested she was right at home on the ‘SNL’ stage.
Navarrette’s Marvel debut is still a while away, but her casting has already generated plenty of excitement. She joins a new ‘X-Men’ lineup that includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, and Adam Driver as Mister Sinister.
Inde Navarrette in the "Paw Patrol: Special Victims Unit" Skit on SNL Yesterday 🎥 @nbcsnl https://t.co/lnSAGvpxS9
— Inde Navarrette Updates (@indenupdates) November 1, 2026
Between ‘Obsession’, ‘SNL’ and her upcoming role as Rogue, Navarrette has become one of the most talked-about young actresses of the moment. Her monologue shows she’s not afraid to speak her mind while she’s at it.
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