Importance Score: 50 / 100 🔵
Country music star Morgan Wallen’s recent appearance as musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” has ignited debate among viewers, marking his second time in the role on the celebrated late-night program.
Morgan Wallen’s “SNL” Appearance Creates Stir
Over the weekend, Academy Award-winning actress Mikey Madison made her debut as host of the iconic sketch comedy series, with Wallen featured as the musical performer.
During the broadcast, the singer-songwriter showcased two tracks from his forthcoming album “I’m The Problem,” delivering renditions of the album’s namesake song and another titled “Just In Case.”
Unexpected Stage Departure During Goodnights
As the show concluded, Madison and Wallen took center stage for the traditional goodnight segment, typically broadcast alongside the closing credits. Contrary to established “SNL” custom, which usually involves the musical guest interacting with the host and cast, Wallen was observed leaving the stage almost immediately. A brief video clip of this moment was circulated on X by the official “SNL” account.
The motive behind Wallen’s abrupt departure before the rest of the cast remains unclear. Inquiries seeking clarification were sent, but no response was received.
While the performer has not publicly addressed the incident, he did share a post on Instagram in the early hours of Sunday morning, subsequent to the show’s airing. The post featured a photograph seemingly taken from an airplane window, showing another aircraft on the runway.
The caption accompanying the image stated, “Get me to God’s country.”
Further requests for comment regarding Wallen’s Instagram post have also gone unanswered.
Wallen’s History of Controversies
Wallen’s career has been punctuated by various controversies dating back to 2016, including a prior incident with “SNL.”
In October 2020, Wallen was removed as “SNL’s” musical guest after a video surfaced appearing to show him violating COVID-19 safety measures while socializing without a face covering. He was subsequently invited back for the show in December 2020, and even referenced the prior cancellation in a comedic skit.
Throughout the years, he has faced additional censure, including a temporary suspension of his recording contract in February 2021 following video evidence of him using a racial slur. However, he later resumed public appearances at award ceremonies, and in May 2022, he received the album of the year honor at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
In December 2024, Wallen entered a guilty plea to two misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, stemming from his arrest after throwing a chair from a bar rooftop. His sentence included seven days at a DUI education center and two years of probation.
Viewer Reactions to Morgan Wallen’s Stage Exit
Social media platforms became a hub for viewer opinions and reactions to Wallen’s on-stage behavior.
One user on X commented, “Morgan Wallen is possibly the first musical guest or host in SNL history that I can remember just walking off stage during ‘goodnights’ before the credits even began.”
Another user’s post read, “Morgan Wallen barely acknowledged Mikey Madison and then storms off stage immediately like a child during the SNL goodbyes. Unbelievable.”
A different post questioned, “Everyone is discussing Morgan Wallen abruptly leaving the SNL stage, but perhaps we should be asking why @nbcsnl invited him back in the first place?”
Another comment summarized, “Morgan Wallen clearly conveyed he didn’t want to be there. Which is precisely what the show deserves for featuring him initially. #SNL”