Morgan Wallen quite literally could not wait even one more minute to get out of New York City after his appearance as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. He immediately exited the stage as soon the show was over and posted a tone-deaf photo to his story on Instagram shortly thereafter.
It was something I have never seen in all of my years watching SNL.
Wallen, one of the most popular and most controversial figures in the current landscape of music and pop culture, is often in the headlines for all of the wrong reasons. This latest behavior is nowhere near as bad as the time he said the N-word or threw a chair off of the roof of a bar in downtown Nashville, but it certainly does not help his image. A large portion of the general public is outraged.
Ego Nwodim and Kenan Thompson were flabbergasted by Wallen’s prompt and unexpected exit.
Saturday Night Live always cuts to commercial after its last sketch. Upon return, the host wraps things up on stage alongside the musical guest. Cast members stand in the back. The host typically offers a few words of gratitude for the night before the credits role. He or she normally sticks around to shake some hands, give some hugs and celebrate a successful performance. As does the musical guest.
Take a look at how Shane Gillis and Tate McRae closed out their joint appearance at the beginning of the month. (The handshake is hilarious!)
Thank you, @Shanemgillis, Tate McRae, and Mike Myers! Goodnight! pic.twitter.com/Lm5PNYwwDV
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) March 2, 2025
Morgan Wallen did not participate in what has become fairly standard protocol. He walked off of the stage within seconds of the show’s end. Nor did he smile while Mikey Madison delivered her closing monologue, or whatever you would like to call it.
Credits started to roll, Wallen gave Madison a hug, and he walked straight off of the front of the stage toward the camera. At no point did he turn back to acknowledge any single member of the cast.
Thank you, Mikey Madison and @MorganWallen! Goodnight! pic.twitter.com/FDlInhhHqb
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) March 30, 2025
Now, I want to give Wallen the benefit of the doubt. I would imagine that he has not watched very many episodes of Saturday Night Live. He is not someone who just walks around with a big smile on his face at all times. Maybe there was nothing more to his deadpan expression. Don’t read to far into it. Maybe he didn’t know that the camera is still rolling while the credits go to air. I could absolutely see his exit being a complete misunderstanding. He was unaware of the standard protocol and left when he thought the show was over. That is a real possibility.
However, Morgan Wallen made the following post to his story on Instagram as soon as he was back at the airport, no more than 90 minutes after SNL wrapped. It does not help the optics.
Between the exit and the post, it sure seems like Morgan Wallen did not want to be there. “God’s country” refers to the South. He wanted to get out of New York City. And if we’re being honest, the cast of SNL — and Mikey Madison — think differently than Wallen. They come from very different backrounds.
Given Wallen’s controversial history, the post on Instagram makes it appear as though he could not handle being around them for even one minute longer. It makes the swift exit look intentional.
At the very least, if this was just a big misinterpretation of the situation, it is yet another disastrous move in terms of Public Relations. Surely Morgan Wallen doesn’t care too much, but yikes. Tough look.
Content shared from brobible.com.