‘SNL’ Weighs In On Morgan Wallen Backlash, NBC Insiders Say

Morgan Wallen may have sparked headlines with his abrupt exit at the end of his recent “Saturday Night Live” appearance, but sources say there’s no bad blood between the country star and NBC.

As the credits rolled, Morgan Wallen was briefly spotted chatting with guest host Mikey Madison and giving her a casual one-armed hug before making a swift exit, leaving the rest of the cast behind to celebrate the end of the episode.

Insiders close to the network told TMZ that despite the singer’s puzzling beeline offstage after the show’s final credits, the door remains wide open for future collaborations. In fact, NBC would “totally have the country music star back on the show.”

While fans immediately speculated that Wallen may have taken offense to a joke or cast moment during the episode, particularly a “Weekend Update” bit from Colin Jost and Michael Che, sources confirmed the “Last Night” singer had been present on set since Thursday and was fully aware of every segment planned for the show.

Not only did he sit through the full dress rehearsal, but he also stayed for the entire live taping without issue.

“There wasn’t a joke or a cast member that offended him and caused him to make a run for ‘God’s country,’” one source noted, referencing the Instagram Stories Wallen posted post-show, which featured a private jet and the caption, “Get me to God’s country.”

Those who were backstage say the vibe was friendly and relaxed, and Wallen reportedly left the live show the same way he had during rehearsals, without stopping to mingle during the customary closing segment.

The departure stood out to viewers at home, as it’s tradition for musical guests to share the stage with the guest host and cast during the sign-off. However, NBC apparently sees the incident as little more than “an awkward moment.”

Despite this latest curious exit, “SNL” writers are already having fun with Wallen’s one-liner, and NBC reportedly remains eager to bring him back. Whether he’ll grace Studio 8H a third time remains to be seen, but it seems clear that, for now, there’s no bridge burned between Wallen and the late-night comedy institution.

The country music star has become one of the most talked-about names in the industry, not just for his chart-topping hits, but also for a string of legal troubles and controversial moments that have followed him throughout his career.

Morgan Wallen’s first run-in with the law came early in his career. In January 2016, he was arrested in Nashville, Tennessee, and charged with driving under the influence. The case was ultimately dismissed in June of that same year.

On May 24, 2020, Wallen made headlines after being arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct outside Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk bar in downtown Nashville. Reports stated that he had been kicked out of the venue for kicking glass objects and causing a disturbance. The charges were later dismissed, but the incident raised concerns about Wallen’s behavior in the public eye.

Just months later, Wallen was again in hot water, this time for violating COVID-19 safety protocols.

Videos surfaced of the singer partying maskless with college students in Alabama, just days before he was scheduled to perform on “Saturday Night Live.” As a result, his “SNL” appearance was canceled. Wallen later issued a public apology for his actions.

One of the most damaging moments of Wallen’s career occurred in February 2021, when video footage captured him using a racial slur outside his home. The backlash was swift and severe as his record label suspended his contract, major radio stations pulled his music from rotation, and streaming platforms removed him from playlists.

Wallen apologized and said he was “embarrassed and sorry,” acknowledging the seriousness of the incident.

In a more recent incident, Wallen found himself back in the headlines in April 2024 after allegedly throwing a chair off the rooftop of Chief’s, a popular Nashville bar. The chair reportedly landed just feet from two police officers.

He was arrested and charged with three counts of felony reckless endangerment and one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct.