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“Saturday Night Live” veteran Dana Carvey has a name for Shane Gillis’ crude, widely condemned remarks about women at the gym: a joke.The comedian weighed in on the backlash to Gillis’ October 10 “Saturday Night Live” monologue, in which he declared, “I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now.”'I just didn't understand the kerfuffle.'Schitt fitGillis went on to describe the revealing shorts women wear to work out, repeatedly portraying himself as a creep for noticing. The routine drew condemnation from fellow entertainers, including “Schitt’s Creek” star Dan Levy, who called the remarks misogynistic.Carvey, who spent seven seasons on “SNL” from 1986 to 1993, couldn't understand the fuss.“I just didn’t understand the kerfuffle only because, to me, I just saw it as what we call — I’ll just say it — a joke,” he said on his “Fly on the Wall” podcast with fellow “SNL” alumnus David Spade.“Like ... when you say jokes, you’re not literally saying women are whores. You are literally joking. Isn’t that kind of the idea?”Then, apparently reconsidering the wisdom of his defense, Carvey added: “No? Did I just get canceled?”RELATED: John Doyle: Why women are committed to proving Shane Gillis’ point Tough crowdCarvey acknowledged that a joke that might have destroyed at the comedy clubs Gillis regularly plays could land differently in NBC's Studio 8H.He and Spade noted that the “SNL” audience tends to consist largely of dressed-up young women — not necessarily the crowd most receptive to Gillis' observations about women's gym attire.Spade, who appeared on “SNL” from 1990 to 1996, was similarly unfazed.“Listen, it got some laughs, but of course, I think he knows that one’s going to be a button-pusher, but he doesn’t care,” he said.Spade also found something contradictory about the response to Gillis, particularly in a culture that demands respect for sex workers while condemning women such as actress Sydney Sweeney.“I will say it’s almost comical that there’s people that say, ‘Oh, don’t make fun of OnlyFans. Don’t make fun of strippers. These are sex workers. They need to be respected.’ And then everyone hates Sydney Sweeney. And it’s like, what? Which one is it?”Ultimately, Spade suggested that the difference between an acceptable “SNL” joke and an unacceptable one often comes down to the audience's reaction.“I think at 'SNL,' if something kills, it gets a pass,” he said. “If something totally bombs, then they get in a lot of trouble.”RELATED: 'I say worse things than that every day': Jimmy Carr issues hilarious defense of Shane Gillis Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty ImagesNatural-born killerCarvey and Spade aren't the only comedians to defend Gillis.British comic Jimmy Carr dismissed the controversy, saying he makes worse jokes every day.Two other former “SNL” cast members also had kind words for Gillis. Victoria Jackson, who appeared on the show from 1986 to 1992, was considerably less diplomatic than Carvey.“He’s right about gym girls dressing like ‘whores,’” Jackson told Entertainment Weekly. “When did ‘camel toe’ become acceptable gym fashion and grocery shopping attire?”Former cast member Jeff Richards, meanwhile, called Gillis a “really funny guy” and an “obvious natural.”Gillis' monologue may have offended a sizeable contingent of entertainers. But among some of the comedians who once worked on the same “SNL” stage, the response has been considerably less scandalized.Jeff Richards, a cast member from 2001 to 2004, called Gillis a "really funny guy" and an "obvious natural."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Atlanta, Georgia, is the latest to be attacked with an incendiary device, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.The FBI said the alleged device was tossed at the ICE agency on Tuesday evening. An active scene on Ted Turner Drive in downtown Atlanta is being investigated.An 'unidentified male suspected of involvement in an attempted arson' had been caught on camera."The FBI continues to investigate an incident involving a Molotov cocktail-style device thrown at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in downtown Atlanta at approximately 8:15 p.m. on October 20," FBI Atlanta posted to X late Wednesday morning."The device caused minor damage. FBI agents are now reviewing evidence and following leads. No arrests have been made."A subsequent post a few hours later indicated that an "unidentified male suspected of involvement in an attempted arson" at the building had been caught on camera. WSB-TV reported that Atlanta police first arrived at the scene and the FBI and Homeland Security arrived later. Some of the evidence reportedly found at the scene included a plastic lighter and a shopping bag with what appeared to be two bottles of lighter fluid.A WSB news crew said they got a look at the scene and saw no sign anything caught fire nor any damage caused.The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.RELATED: DHS: Deadly Dallas ICE shooting came a month after bomb threat at same office Liberal activists and agitators have protested ongoing ICE operations to detain and deport illegal aliens. Some have led to heinous attacks against ICE officers, and two detainees were killed and a third injured in an attack just over a year ago in Dallas.In July, one anti-ICE activist was captured on video allegedly spraying an incendiary liquid at a federal office in New York City and lighting it with a lighter.He then set off some fireworks and tried to flee before he was "tackled and detained" by a security officer, according to a DHS statement.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The mayor of the central Florida city of Kissimmee dodged an impeachment trial, only to end up in handcuffs.Jackie Espinosa — who was born in New Jersey and elected mayor in 2024 with some Democrat support — was arrested on Wednesday morning. According to the Osceola County charging affidavit, she has been slapped with one count of first-degree felony organized scheme to defraud $50,000 or more and one second-degree felony count of grand theft of over $20,000 but less than $100,000.'It is about public service, not self-service.'The mayor has been dogged for months by allegations that she personally benefited from Business Boost 2.0, a COVID-19 relief grant program that she championed and helped create in September 2025. The program reportedly relies in part on federal funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act.In a lengthy complaint filed in March, Kissimmee resident Alex Alemi alleged that after Espinosa successfully pushed for the program's creation, three of her businesses — Adanse LLC, which is owned by the Espinosa Family Trust; Kissimmee Diner Inc.; and the Real Estate Gallery LLC, which is registered under her husband's name — applied for and received grants from Business Boost 2.0, reported the Orlando Sentinel.The mayor and her family allegedly received at least $50,000 in funding from the program.Espinosa admitted to the Sentinel in May, "Three of my 13 businesses got a grant, yes, of our family-owned businesses."RELATED: Who wants to be a millionaire? Trump issues nationwide bounty on fraudsters Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesShe claimed, however, that the federal funds that floated the program "were available way before I was the mayor."The ethics complaint filed in March also alleged that the city's former attorney, Olga Sanchez de Fuentes, was fired for raising concerns about the grants. The city commission voted 3-1 to fire her in February, though Espinosa supported the move.The mayor claimed that terminating Fuentes "wasn't a Jackie thing; this was a commission thing."Public outrage prompted a months-long impeachment effort against Espinosa. However, that was thwarted in August by a deadlocked city commission vote on whether to hold an impeachment trial.The scandal did not, however, die with the deadlocked vote.Last month, the Florida Commission on Ethics announced that it had found probable cause that Espinosa "had an employment or contractual relationship with an entity doing business with her agency when her business accepted grant money that was administered by her agency."Weeks later, WESH-TV reported that Espinosa agreed to a $2,000 fine as well as to a public censure and reprimand. The reprimand agreement is pending."After weighing the available options, I believe resolving it now is the appropriate path forward," the mayor said after agreeing to the fine. "I am ready to put this chapter behind us and focus my attention on what matters most: serving the people of Kissimmee, as I have since day one, with professionalism, integrity, and dedication."Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who made clear last week that "preventing fraud is a priority for [his] office," said during a press conference on Wednesday, "We hold corrupt public officials accountable. If you are going to abuse your office, if you are going to abuse the public trust to enrich yourself or family members, we are going to find you, and we are going to hold you accountable."In Espinosa's case, Uthmeier claimed, "The evidence makes very clear that there was intent to engage in this conflict of interest" and that she "ultimately abused her office to enrich herself."Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia alleged that:seven businesses located in properties owned or managed by Jackie Espinosa's family received a combined total of $90,000 in grant funds. $50,000 went to Espinosa's businesses while $40,000 went to tenants in Espinosa's businesses. So $50,000 directly, $40,000 indirectly. During the course of the [Florida Department of Financial Services] investigation, we found that Jackie Espinosa herself applied for the grant on behalf of her family's businesses."Public service means that you work for the public," said Ingoglia. "It is about public service, not self-service."If convicted, Ingoglia said that Espinosa could end up in prison for three decades.Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Larry Keefe said to those wondering why this case is a big deal, "If you don't hold public officials accountable in these public corruption cases then the whole system really unravels, and that's not an exaggeration. There has to be accountability. When public officials betray the public trust, it's not just limited to them in their discrete circumstances. It diminishes the trust and credibility that the public has in all of the other public officials who are honest, who are doing a great job, who are giving their life to a noble career."Espinosa's office did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A convicted serial rapist in California who was originally sentenced to 124 years in prison has been released after serving approximately 20 years behind bars. Many are outraged that the serial rapist, who also is the great-grandson of legendary cosmetics mogul Max Factor, was released from prison after being convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women.NBC News reported that 62-year-old Andrew Luster was released from prison on parole on Oct. 11 "after serving his full sentence as required by law," according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.'By drugging his victims into a coma-like state, Andrew Luster played Russian roulette with the lives of his victims so he could abuse their comatose bodies.'The Ventura County Star reported that Luster is registered as a sex offender on California's Megan's Law website, with a Glendora address — and he will have to register as a sex offender for life and will be on supervised parole for the next three years.The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement released on Sunday that "this is not an early release.""According to voter-approved propositions, determinate-sentenced incarcerated individuals may reduce their carceral time due to the earning of worktime and good conduct credits," the CDCR continued. "In this case, Andrew Luster received 977 days of pre-sentence credit and was eligible for credit-earning opportunities while incarcerated."Luster was first arrested in July 2000 after a college student accused him of raping her at his home, according to court documents obtained by People magazine.People magazine said investigators discovered a video of Luster drugging and raping the victim as well as two other women while executing a search warrant at his home.More from People:His trial began in late 2002, and two weeks in, he was able to convince the judge to lift the conditions of his parole so that he could visit his lawyer in Los Angeles over the holidays. Luster — who claims he knew little about this plan and that it was orchestrated by one of his lawyers — soon found himself hiding out in Mexico after paying someone to sneak him over the border.In June 2003, Luster was heading out for a taco when he was apprehended by popular bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the Guardian reported, adding that that witnesses told police that Chapman's crew "had used an aerosol spray and handcuffs to subdue the rapist, bundled him into one of their two vans, and drove off."RELATED: Ex-University of Kentucky cheerleader who admitted killing her newborn baby learns fate — judge delivers brutal reality check The Los Angeles Times previously reported that Luster was convicted on 86 counts of rape and drug charges after a jury viewed videotapes he made of himself engaging in sexual acts with three women rendered unconscious by GHB — or gamma-hydroxybutyrate, a "date-rape" drug.Fox News reported that Luster's 124-year prison sentence was thrown out in March 2013, and he was resentenced to 50 years behind bars because the original judge reportedly made a legal error.J. David Nick, who represented Luster during his efforts to overturn the sentence, said in an interview that the original judge improperly stacked prison terms without making the findings required under California law, according to Fox News.Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in 2024 that releasing Luster would be a "grave injustice to the survivors and a threat to public safety," KCAL-TV reported.According to Nasarenko, Luster "preyed upon young women, primarily in college bars" between 1996 and 2000 while he was in his early 30s, drugging his victims with GHB."Luster engaged in sadistic sexual abuse of their comatose bodies," Nasarenko stated in 2024. "In two of the attacks, Luster recorded his rape and sexual abuse of the victims."Ventura County Senior Deputy District Attorney Anthony Wold condemned the possibility of Luster's release in a 2025 statement:By drugging his victims into a coma-like state, Andrew Luster played Russian roulette with the lives of his victims so he could abuse their comatose bodies. Even now, he attempts to rewrite the history of his heinous crimes to falsely mitigate his culpability to gain early release. He remains a highly dangerous sexual predator. We continue to maintain he should serve his full sentence. He's earned it.However, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office said Luster was scheduled to be released from prison no later than Oct. 31, 2026.KCAL reported that Luster is living in Glendora, which has drawn outrage from city leaders."The city of Glendora is beyond disappointed," Mayor David Fredendall stated. "We are outraged."Fredendall blamed Luster's early release on Proposition 57, a California ballot measure voters approved in 2016 that expanded parole eligibility and sentence-reduction credits for eligible offenders."When California voters approved Proposition 57 in 2016, they were assured by Governor Jerry Brown and his administration that dangerous offenders would remain behind bars," Fredendall continued. "His campaign went so far as to promise that sex offenders would be 'absolutely ineligible for parole under Prop 57.'"The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation stated that Proposition 57 was "overwhelmingly approved by voters in the November 2016 election to enhance public safety, to stop the revolving door of crime by emphasizing rehabilitation, and to prevent federal courts from releasing prisoners."The CDCR said Prop 57 also "establishes a parole consideration process for determinately sentenced and indeterminately sentenced people convicted of nonviolent crimes, as defined by California Penal Code, who have served the full term for their primary criminal offense and who demonstrate they no longer pose a current, unreasonable risk to the public."According to the CDCR, Proposition 57 "gives incarcerated people the opportunity to earn additional credits for good behavior and participation in rehabilitative, educational, and career training programs so they are better prepared to succeed and less likely to commit new crimes on the outside."Meanwhile, Fredendall added, "The State may argue that this was not technically an early release. It can point to sentencing credits, legal calculations, and administrative requirements. However, those technical explanations do not address the larger concern: how an individual originally sentenced to 124 years in prison for heinous crimes is able to walk out of a secured facility after only 20 years."Fredendall continued, "The people of Glendora should not have to worry about their safety because of a decision by the State that allows an individual with a history of rape and violence to now live in close proximity to schools, parks, playgrounds, churches, and community centers.""The victims deserve better. The people of Glendora deserve better. California must do better," the mayor demanded.The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not immediately provide more details to Fox News regarding Luster's release date, an explanation of the sentencing calculations, and details about his parole supervision.Like Blaze News? 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