Saturday Night Live has faced its share of controversies throughout its long-running history, and the most recent incident involves country music star Morgan Wallen. Wallen was the featured musical guest for the show’s fifteenth episode of its 50th season, which aired on March 29, 2025, with Oscar-winning actor Mikey Madison taking on hosting duties. During the episode, Wallen performed two songs, “I’m the Problem”and “Just in Case,”from his forthcoming album, I’m the Problem. However, what caught viewers’ attention was Wallen’s decision to leave the stage abruptly after his performance, foregoing the customary farewells shared among cast and crew.
In the subsequent episode, Jack Black is set to host with musical appearances by Elton John and Brandi Carlile, scheduled for April 5. Following this, Jon Hamm will step into the host role on April 12, with Lizzo providing musical entertainment.
During the segment’s conclusion, Madison expressed gratitude to the audience, and as the end credits rolled, the cast members exchanged hugs while music played in the background. In stark contrast, Wallen’s swift exit stood out. He shared a brief embrace with the host before promptly leaving the stage.
The Controversy Surrounding Morgan Wallen’s Departure from SNL
Viewer Confusion Over Wallen’s Abrupt Exit
After the episode aired, many viewers were left speculating about Wallen’s sudden departure. It is customary for guests to mingle with the Saturday Night Live cast during the credits, as demonstrated by Madison. Wallen’s unexpected choice to leave sparked significant online discussion. His Instagram story, featuring a photo of his view from an airplane window with the caption, “Get me to God’s country,”only added fuel to the fire, leading some to speculate that he was eager to escape the studio environment.
Given Wallen’s previous vocal support for former President Trump—whom SNL often parodies—some fans questioned the nature of his departure. According to Variety, Wallen’s team clarified that the singer did not intend to suggest he had a negative experience during his time on SNL. Rather, the walk-off was unintentional and not meant to indicate any conflict. Reportedly, Wallen had an enjoyable time during the episode, attributing his exit to a misstep rather than intentional signaling.
From another perspective, Kenan Thompson shared his thoughts on Wallen’s actions in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He expressed confusion regarding Wallen’s choice, stating:
“I don’t know what goes through people’s minds when they decide to do stuff like that. I don’t know if he understood the assignment or not, or if he was really feeling a certain kind of way. .. It’s definitely a spike in the norm. We’re so used to everybody just turning around and high-fiving us, everybody’s saying, ‘Good job, good job, good job.’ So when there’s a departure from that, it’s like, hmm, I wonder what that’s about?. .. But Saturday, I guess it was just different because it just felt so abrupt. And it was already such a small grouping on the stage anyway. So it was just like, oh wow, that was pretty visible. You know what I’m saying? It was a pretty visible thing.”
Morgan Wallen’s Previous Engagements with Saturday Night Live
Wallen’s Past Controversy as a Musical Guest
The controversy surrounding Wallen’s exit from Saturday Night Live this season marks another chapter in a series of incidents involving the artist. Back in October 2020, Wallen was slated to perform on the show. However, videos surfaced showing him violating COVID-19 safety protocols shortly before the broadcast. As a result, NBC replaced him with Jack White during season 47, episode 2. Wallen later apologized and was rescheduled for the December 5 episode. Fast forward over four years, and Wallen has again stirred discussion with his exit from the stage during the iconic show’s 50th season.
Sources: Variety, Entertainment Weekly