Everything Music. Everything News. Everything live.

SNL Fires Back at Morgan Wallen After Abrupt Exit

Tony Norkus / Shutterstock.com
Tony Norkus / Shutterstock.com

The latest episode of Saturday Night Live targeted country singer Morgan Wallen in response to his abrupt departure from the stage during the previous week's broadcast. This past Saturday, in a series of jabs both during the Cold Open and the “Weekend Update,” SNL lampooned Wallen’s hasty exit using clever integration within their sketches. James Austin Johnson impersonated former President Donald Trump, jesting about Wallen’s “God’s country” social media post. The Cold Open sketch saw Johnson mockingly referencing a perfectly uninhabited island called McDonald Island as “God’s country,” connecting directly to Wallen's hasty social media share from his breakaway flight right after SNL. The mischievous Cold Open set the tone for the night, establishing Wallen as a key punchline throughout the show.

The “Weekend Update” segment added to the humor, embedding a counter-narrative to Wallen’s unforeseen exit from the previous week's show. Co-anchor Colin Jost riffed on the week's financial news by comparing the speed at which stock market investors were losing money to the swiftness of Wallen leaving the SNL stage. As ever with SNL, the audience appreciated the topical humor, which was tailored to make light of real-world events and, in this instance, Wallen’s high-profile walk-off. This marked a keen return to humor rooted in social reality, with SNL using its platform to ingeniously critique real-life situations, blending entertainment with societal commentary.

Opinions are varied on Wallen’s sudden decision to exit last week's show and the subsequent meme-worthy Instagram story he published. His decision to promote merch connected to his sudden retreat from the stage suggests a lighthearted personal take on the whole affair. Yet Kenan Thompson, a longstanding SNL veteran, was bewildered by Wallen’s refusal to participate in the usual end-of-show camaraderie, stating that such behavior broke from the norm. Thompson openly doubted the rationale behind Wallen's actions, signifying perhaps this deviation carried more weight within SNL than it did in the social media clickbait Wallen leveraged into merchandise.

Industry insiders shared that Wallen’s decision might not have been intended as a slight against traditional show customs. A source emphasized to media outlets that Wallen consistently used the same stage entrance and exit pathway throughout his rehearsal week, underscoring the possibility that his exit was mechanical rather than defiant. Additionally, a decision against participating in a pre-taped sketch, which would have featured him alongside the cast, hinted at a more reserved stance toward his engagement that night on SNL. Joe Jonas, another notable figure, stepped into Wallen's would-be role, with media commentators speculating on whether this really was an outlier of quiet rebellion or simply a misunderstood stance.

 

Key Takeaways

Related Stories

ChatGPT and Spotify Team Up for Music Recommendations, But Should We Be Excited or Worried?

Introduction ChatGPT and Spotify have announced a new partnership that lets users request personalized music and podcast recommendations directly through…

Foo Fighters Surprise Fans with Live EP “Are Playing Where??? Vol. 1”

The Foo Fighters have dropped a surprise new live EP titled Are Playing Where??? Vol. 1, capturing the raw energy…

The Who, John Fogerty, Def Leppard, Cheap Trick & more rock backyard benefit for Teen Cancer America

Rock legends The Who returned to the stage for an unforgettable night in Los Angeles, hosting their 10th annual Backyard…

Neil Peart and Geddy Lee of Rush Rush in concert, Austin, Texas - 16 May 2015

Rush Announces Long-Awaited Return to the Road with 2026 “Fifty Something” Tour

Legendary Canadian progressive rock band Rush is officially hitting the road again. After more than a decade since their last…

The Who’s Final North American Performance: Setlist, Moments, and an Emotional Farewell

  Quick takeaways The Who closed their North American Farewell Tour—“The Song Is Over”—on October 1, 2025, at Acrisure Arena…

MAX WEINBERG ( Drums) and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and the E Street Band perform onstage during the opening night of The Land of Hope and Dreams Tour at Co-op Live Arena on May 14, 2025, in Manchester, England. The 2025 tour is SPRINGSTEEN's first major European run since 2023 and features classic hits alongside material from his recent albums. The show took place at the UK's newest and largest indoor arena. Bruce Springsteen Opens The Land Of Hope And Dreams Tour In Manchester, United Kingdom - 14 May 2025

Bruce Springsteen Stuns NYFF With Acoustic “Land of Hope and Dreams”

Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance at the 63rd New York Film Festival in New York City on September 28,…

REO Speedwagon Reunites: Rock Legends Come Together Once More

In late September 2025, fans got a shock — and a thrill — when REO Speedwagon reunited onstage for the…

Paul McCartney Surprises by Playing “Help!” in Full After Six Decades

When Sir Paul McCartney opened his 2025 U.S. tour in Santa Barbara with “Help!”, it marked a milestone moment: the…

Bad Bunny to take the stage at Super Bowl Halftime Show

When the NFL tapped Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, it wasn’t just another…