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Morgan Wallen created a stir following his March 29 appearance on Saturday Night Live when he unexpectedly left the stage during the show's closing moments. The 31-year-old country star, serving as musical guest for Mikey Madison's hosting debut, was seen briefly whispering to Madison before making a hasty exit while credits rolled.
The incident quickly garnered attention from viewers who noted the departure's unusual nature. Typically, musical guests remain on stage during the traditional end-of-show gathering. Some eagle-eyed fans pointed out that cast members Ego Nwodim and Kenan Thompson appeared visibly confused by Wallen's exit, with Thompson giving Nwodim a bemused glance.
Wallen fueled further speculation with his post-show Instagram Story featuring an image of a private jet captioned "Get me to God's country," suggesting his eagerness to depart New York immediately following the broadcast.
"He seemed to exchange niceties with host Mikey Madison before giving her a one-armed hug and making a beeline for the exit as the rest of the cast celebrates," reported TMZ, which described the moment as an "abrupt goodbye."
A source close to Wallen has since attempted to downplay the incident, telling reporters it was simply "an oopsie moment" with "nothing meant by it." According to this insider, Wallen had been using the same entrance and exit during rehearsals all week and merely followed his established routine.
During his SNL appearance, Wallen performed "I'm the Problem" and "Just in Case," both tracks from his forthcoming album titled "I'm the Problem," scheduled for release on May 16.
This appearance marked Wallen's return to SNL following his controversial history with the program. In October 2020, he was originally scheduled as musical guest but was removed from the lineup after videos surfaced showing him partying maskless and kissing multiple women in Alabama, violating COVID-19 protocols in place at that time.
The singer eventually made his SNL debut in December 2020, even participating in a sketch that poked fun at the controversy. During that appearance, he performed "7 Summers" and "Still Goin' Down."
Madison, fresh from her Best Actress Oscar win for her role in "Anora," expressed her gratitude during the closing moments, stating, "I had a wonderful time," moments before Wallen's unexpected departure.
Saturday Night Live will return on April 5 with Jack Black hosting and musical performances by Elton John and Brandi Carlile. Meanwhile, Wallen's representatives have not provided official comment regarding the incident as of Sunday, March 30.
