Morgan Wallen’s SNL Exit: A Dive into Controversy and Country Star Image

Morgan Wallen, the "I’m the Problem" singer, recently sparked conversation following his abrupt departure from Saturday Night Live after his musical guest appearance on March 29. Departing the stage during the customary end-of-show credits, Wallen’s actions immediately raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about a potential disagreement with the show.

Shortly after leaving 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, Wallen took to Instagram Stories, sharing a photo of a private jet accompanied by the caption "Get me to God’s country." This declaration, signaling his eagerness to return home, became a focal point in understanding his seemingly premature exit.

The singer addressed the situation on comedian Caleb Pressley’s podcast, dispelling rumors of a conflict with SNL. When questioned directly about whether the show had upset him, Wallen responded, "No, no, I was just ready to go home. I’ve been there all week." His statement attributed the exit to simply wanting to leave after a long week of rehearsals and the live performance.

Further adding to the lighthearted discussion, the podcast hosts jokingly referenced Wallen’s previous encounter with the law. In 2024, Wallen was sentenced to spend seven days in a DUI education center and be under supervised probation for two years after he threw a chair from the rooftop of a Nashville, Tennessee, bar, nearly hitting two police officers. Pressley initiated a segment presented by "Food Barn," humorously asking Wallen to "name a thing that you can sit in that also flies through the air."

Wallen initially responded with, "I mean, there’s one obvious answer…a jet," seemingly alluding to his private jet exit after the SNL performance. Pressley teased him, adding, "There’s another answer to that question as well. You can sit in it, and it can also fly through the air." Wallen then jokingly exclaimed, "Oh, I know the answer to that question…A chair!" This exchange highlighted the ability of both Wallen and Pressley to poke fun at the singer’s controversial past.

Despite Wallen’s explanation, sources close to the show told Fox News Digital that there was no issue during the show, and his departure was simply an "oops" moment. An insider stated, "That was the way he entered and exited the studio all week during rehearsal and camera blocking, so he just walked that way after hugging [host] Mikey [Madison]." This source indicated that Wallen’s exit was consistent with his routine throughout the week and was not a sign of any negative feelings toward the show or its cast.

Customarily, SNL guests remain on stage to congratulate the cast after the show. In the episode, host Mikey Madison thanked Wallen for his appearance just before he walked off stage. The cameras then captured the cast congratulating each other, further emphasizing the unusual nature of Wallen’s quick exit.

During his appearance, Wallen performed two songs from his upcoming album, including "Just in Case" and "I’m the Problem." In an apparent move to capitalize on the viral moment, Wallen began selling merchandise featuring the phrase "Get me to God’s country," further cementing his brand and persona around the incident.

SNL addressed Wallen’s departure in a cold-open bit the following week. James Austin Johnson, impersonating Donald Trump, mentioned Wallen while discussing "Liberation Day" tariffs. Johnson quipped, "I even put tariffs on an island uninhabited by humans…It’s called Heard and McDonald Island. I would love to visit there. Can you imagine that? Big Mac and a hula skirt. Get me to God’s country, right? Remember that?"

Later in the same episode, Colin Jost made a joke about the singer during a segment about the economy. Jost remarked, "This was the worst week for the stock market since the summer of 2020…But you have to remember — back then, the president was also Trump. Just in the past two days, investors have lost over $6 trillion. Money is leaving the stock market faster than Morgan Wallen at goodnights."

Kenan Thompson also commented on Wallen’s exit, saying, "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?" Thompson also noted that Prince had a similar departure after his SNL performance years ago. "I’m not saying Morgan Wallen is Prince, but we weren’t surprised because Prince was notoriously kind of standoffish," Thompson added.

Wallen’s return to SNL was a significant moment in his career, especially considering his previous controversial debut.

Originally scheduled to be the musical guest on an October episode of Saturday Night Live several months into the pandemic, Wallen faced immediate backlash after footage emerged showing him not wearing a COVID mask at an Alabama football game and partying with several women at a bar afterward. The video went viral, leading to outrage from those who supported mask mandates and social distancing measures.

As a result, SNL promptly removed Wallen from the episode. He subsequently released an apology video, stating, "I’m in New York City in a hotel room, I was getting ready for SNL this Saturday, and I got a call from the show letting me know that I will no longer be able to play…That’s because of COVID protocols, which I understand."

In the video, Wallen also shared, "I think I’ve lost myself a little bit. I’ve tried to find joy in the wrong places, and it’s left me with less joy. So Imma go try to work on that. I’m gonna take a step back from the spotlight for a while and go work on myself."

Two months later, SNL invited Wallen back for a second chance. During his appearance, he poked fun at his previous bar antics in a sketch with Pete Davidson, Jason Bateman, and Bowen Yang.

After the show, Wallen thanked the audience for "giving this poor Southern boy a second Yankee chance." His return and subsequent performance were widely seen as a successful redemption story, highlighting his ability to learn from his mistakes and connect with audiences.