Shane Gillis is an American comedian, actor, and podcaster known for his stand-up, Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, and Netflix series Tires. He was briefly hired for SNL in 2019 but was fired over past controversial jokes. Despite this, he has built a successful career in comedy, eventually returning to SNL as a host in 2024 and 2025.
Early Life and Education
Shane Gillis was born on December 11, 198 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, United States, He grew up in an Irish Catholic family and played football in high school. He attended Trinity High School, where he played as an offensive tackle on the football team. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighing 275 pounds (125 kg), he was recruited to play football at the United States Military Academy at West Point. However, he left during his first year and later attended Elon University before ultimately graduating from West Chester University with a degree in history.
Comedy Career
Shane Gillis started stand-up comedy in 2012, first in Pennsylvania, then in Philadelphia. In 2016, he won the “Philly’s Phunniest” contest and started Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast with Matt McCusker. The podcast became very popular. In 2019, he was named a "New Face" at the Just for Laughs festival. His career was growing, but his hiring and quick firing from SNL sparked controversy.
Shane Gillis Fired from SNL
On September 12, 2019, Shane Gillis was hired for SNL with Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman. Days later, old podcast clips surfaced where he used slurs, leading to a backlash. NBC fired him after five days. In 2024, SNL creator Lorne Michaels said NBC executives forced the decision.
After SNL, Gillis focused on stand-up and created Gilly & Keeves. His 2021 special Live in Austin was a hit on YouTube, and in 2023, he released Beautiful Dogs on Netflix. He also appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience and starred in Bupkis (2023).
In 2024, he co-created and starred in the Netflix series Tires, which got a second season. Despite his firing, he returned to SNL as a host on February 24, 2024, and again on March 1, 2025, making a strong career comeback.
Shane Gillis' Relationship with TikTok Star Grace Brassel
Shane Gillis is currently in a relationship with Grace Brassel, a 25-year-old TikTok star, Instagram influencer, and digital content creator. Grace is known for her comedic videos about sorority life and lifestyle. She has over 540K followers on TikTok and more than 74K followers on Instagram. Before gaining popularity online, she was an athlete, playing volleyball at West Chester University and later at the University of Delaware, where she graduated in 2021.
Shane and Grace's relationship became public after they were spotted together at high-profile events, including the wedding of NFL star Christian McCaffrey and model Olivia Culpo. In September 2024, they attended a Philadelphia Eagles game, where they sported matching Eagles gear. Grace shared moments from the game on her Instagram, further confirming their relationship. Despite their growing public presence, Shane keeps his personal life relatively private, with occasional glimpses of their relationship on social media.
Shane Gillis's Net Worth (2025)
Shane Gillis has an estimated net worth of $8 million in 2025. He earns money from his podcast, comedy tours, and shows like the Netflix series Tires. In 2024, he was paid $5,000 to host Saturday Night Live. For comedy shows, his booking fee is between $300,000 and $499,000.
