"Saturday Night Live" "Weekend Update" co-anchor Michael Che brushed off the backlash to host Shane Gillis's monologue, saying on the TODAY show on Thursday that "that's comedy," TODAY.com and Fox News reported.

Gillis, who hosted the Oct. 10 episode, was criticized after he joked in his opening monologue that women dress like "whores" at the gym, TODAY reported.

Che appeared on TODAY to promote his new Netflix comedy special, "Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota." Co-anchor Laura Jarrett asked him about an Instagram post from earlier in the week in which he wrote that he had to do more press for the special and wondered what every question would be about, both outlets reported. The post ended, "thanks a lot shane," TODAY reported.

"That's comedy. It's like, you think it's funny and then some people don't," Che said, according to TODAY.

Che said he was working on cue cards during the monologue and did not see it until the next day, TODAY reported. Asked what he thought when he did see it, he said, "I didn't think about it honestly."

"There's so much going on. It's really hard to see what everyone is doing, especially for me. I'm not what they call 'good at my job,' so I don't pay attention to that," Che said, according to both outlets.

He said his own experience with tough jokes, including the "Weekend Update" joke swap with co-anchor Colin Jost, keeps him from judging other comics. "That's why I can't criticize anybody for swinging and missing because I've definitely swung and missed, too," Che said, according to TODAY. "I try to keep that heat off of me."

The monologue drew criticism on social media and from celebrities including comedians Ego Nwodim and Dan Levy, TODAY reported. TODAY.com said it reached out to Gillis and "SNL" and had not heard back. Fox News reported that Gillis's representative declined to comment.

What we know: Che said the backlash is part of comedy and that he won't criticize Gillis for the joke.
What we don't: Whether Gillis or "SNL" will respond to the criticism.