Morgan Wallen’s SNL Exit: What Really Happened?

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Morgan Wallen knows that comedy loves a good callback.

3 days after “I Had Some Help” singer suddenly walked off the Saturday Night Live stage during host Mikey Madison’s closing speech on the March 29th episode, the 31-year-old artist made a subtle reference to the contentious incident.

On April 1st, Wallen unveiled a collection of apparel, comprising a T-shirt and a baseball cap, adorned with the phrase “Lead me to the land of God,” a subtle allusion to the message he shared on Instagram following his unexpected departure from SNL, which several people perceived as a deliberate jab.

Wallen’s authentic fan group recently uploaded a picture of the latest merchandise on Instagram, accompanied by an airplane symbol and possibly referencing the snapshot of the private jet that Wallen shared, which has since gained widespread attention due to his catchy phrase. The post also specified the location as “God’s Country.

Wallen has remained silent about the walk-out controversy so far, but this hasn’t prevented other celebrities from expressing their opinions on the matter.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly on March 31st, SNL’s longest-running cast member, Kenan Thompson, expressed his confusion about people’s actions. He questioned whether they truly comprehended their tasks or if they were simply in a particular emotional state.

To try and explain the situation, Thompson suggested that maybe Wallen had to step away for a bathroom break, or something similar.

The comedian went on, “Clearly, this is an anomaly from the usual.” He explained, “We’re so accustomed to people praising us left and right, giving us pats on the back, saying ‘well done,’ ‘well done,’ ‘well done.’ So when things don’t follow that pattern, it makes you pause and wonder, I guess I’m curious to find out why?

He added, “Seems like a complicated individual, I guess.”

Read on for more of Wallen’s most controversial moments through the years. 

Departing unexpectedly after performing on Saturday Night Live’s March 29, 2025 episode, Morgan Wallen bid farewell to host Mikey Madison. Following their exchange, Wallen, the night’s musical guest, strayed from the norm by leaving without lingering with the cast during the closing credits. Later, he posted a picture of an airplane on a runway to his Instagram Stories and captioned it, “Off to the land of God.

In April 2024, Wallen was apprehended due to accusations that he had thrown a chair off the rooftop of Chief’s bar in Nashville. The police announced this information shortly after the incident. Around a week and a half later, the Grammy nominee spoke out publicly about the event.

On April 19, 2024, he wrote on his platform: “I didn’t feel comfortable checking in publicly until I had made amends with certain individuals. I have since contacted Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the staff at Chief’s. I’m not proud of my actions, and I acknowledge my responsibility.”

In December 2024, Wallen admitted his guilt to two counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment related to the chair-throwing incident. The court sentenced him to a probation period of two years and seven days in a DUI education center.

After a video surfaced showing him using a racial slur in February 2021, the singer expressed regret and apologized to his fans. In a statement to TopMob News, he acknowledged that his words were unacceptable and inappropriate, with no justification for their use. He pledged to improve and sincerely apologized for his language.

Following this incident, many country music artists criticized him, radio stations dropped him from their playlists, his record label suspended his contract, and he was barred from several award shows that year.

In an Instagram video later in the month, he acknowledged the power of words and expressed remorse for any pain caused. He shared personal stories he heard from Black individuals about the impact of words on them, admitting that their experiences were far more profound than his current situation. He emerged from these discussions with a newfound respect for them and a clearer understanding of the gravity of his actions.

As I was gearing up for a performance on SNL this coming October, I received an unexpected call from the show informing me that they were unable to have me play due to some COVID-19 protocol violations on my part. I’ve since acknowledged and apologized for my actions, as they clearly jeopardized my long-term goals and aspirations.

In a video message shared through social media, I admitted that I made short-sighted decisions over the weekend, which led to this unfortunate situation. While I’m not COVID positive, I understand the importance of following the guidelines in order to ensure everyone’s safety.

On a more personal note, I realized that I need to grow and mature as an individual. I lost my way for a bit, seeking joy in the wrong places, which ultimately left me feeling less fulfilled. So, I decided to step away from the spotlight temporarily to focus on self-improvement.

Fortunately, Jack White stepped in to fill my spot that month, but I was given another opportunity to perform on SNL later that December. In one of the sketches, I even made light of the incident, demonstrating a sense of humor and humility about the situation.

A former contestant on The Voice was taken into custody in May 2020 for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, following an incident at Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse. According to a warrant obtained by The Tennessean, Wallen had been breaking glass items and engaging in verbal disputes with passersby on the street.

In a statement shared on social media at the time, he explained, “I just wanted to set the record straight. I went downtown with some old friends last night, we visited a few bars, and after a while, we were playfully interacting with each other. We didn’t intend any harm, and we apologize to anyone who was impacted.”

The charges against Wallen were subsequently dropped in July 2020, as indicated by court records from the Howard Gentry Criminal Court Clerk in Tennessee.

In the year 2016, it was reported that Wallen faced charges for suspected drunk driving in his native Tennessee, as per court documents available online. Nevertheless, these records show that the case against him was dropped later in the same year.

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2025-04-02 04:48