Kenan Thompson Speaks Out on Morgan Wallen’s Walk-Off on ‘SNL’
Kenan Thompson has broken his silence on Morgan Wallen abruptly walking off the stage at the end of this weekend’s Saturday Night Live episode. The show also revealed the singer’s future and whether or not he will be welcomed back.
“I don’t know what goes through people’s minds when they decide to do stuff like that. I don’t know if he understood the assignment or not, or if he was really feeling a certain kind of way,” Thompson told Entertainment Weekly.
He told the outlet that he “definitely saw” Wallen, who was the night’s musical guest, walk off the stage. “You see somebody before you get a chance to say, ‘Hi’ or say, ‘Good job’ or anything like that, they just dipping,” Thompson said. “I thought maybe he had to go to the potty or something.”
Wallen’s walk-off came as the credits rolled for viewers at home. He side-hugged host Mikey Madison and then left, not acknowledging any of the cast members. Most of the Season 50 cast members didn’t notice or pretended not to, and blew kisses to the camera instead.
Thank you, Mikey Madison and @MorganWallen! Goodnight! pic.twitter.com/FDlInhhHqb
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) March 30, 2025
“It’s definitely a spike in the norm,” Thompson told the outlet. “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 said that he had never met Wallen during the most recent episode or when he performed in December 2020. However, that performance was canceled when he broke COVID-19 protocols.
Later that night, Wallen shared a photo of himself on a private jet with the caption “Get me to God’s country.”
“The ‘God’s country’ of it all is strange because it’s like, what are you trying to say?” Thompson said. “You trying to say that we are not in God’s country? We’re not all in God’s country? We’re not all under God’s umbrella? That’s not necessarily my favorite. But whatever. Moving on, we got a new show. We got Jack Black this week.”
His exit went viral and sparked conversation online about whether or not the country music star had a good time.
“Wow, Morgan Wallen just walking off the stage during the @nbcsnl credits? In decades of watching SNL, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that,” @jefflocker wrote on X. “For so many of us, that is sacred ground. What an a**hole.”
Responding to the private-plane post, @AmayaLancelot wrote, “Morgan Wallen with a little more of the catty-ass petty loser s*** he so proudly displayed running offstage down the center aisle [and] right past the camera at [the] SNL curtain call… This [and] the tone-deaf private jet flaunt couldn’t be more lame [and] undercutting coming from a country star.”
However, sources close to NBC told TMZ that he is allowed back any time. “There’s no bad blood on their end,” they said. The source said that Wallen’s exit was an awkward moment, but there wasn’t a “joke or cast member that offended him.” He watched the entire dress rehearsal and knew every joke that was told.
Saturday Night Live, Saturdays, 11:30/10:30c, NBC
Conversation33 Comments
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K
He's from Tennessee and is a country music singer.
Of course he's going to go all MAGA on everyone, because MAGAs can't hold in their awfulness.
They're deeply flawed humans, as is clearly Wallen.
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R
Where are you from Ken Olson?
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G
So to Ken Olson if your from TN and sing country music your a deeply flawed person. Or if he voted for President Trump as 77 Million Plus Americans did. Hmm weird concept. Where ever Ken is from I hope he Stays there and doesn’t come to my neck of the woods.
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G
That’s a very weird and warped perception. Try looking in a mirror 🤡
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R
He is a hillbilly. He don't know the ways of civilized people.
11 1
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G
Now that IS funny right there !! You think NYC is civilized and superior !! Better a Hillbilly than a total jerk like you. 😂
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G
Publicity stunt. Record sales must be down so he has to rile up his MAGA horde.
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G
He has a private jet. What model do You own these days ? Sorry cardboard planes with a rubber band don’t count. So that leaves you out.
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G
boy you're funny
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G
Not a boy here, All man, and you can come try to piss on me but I wouldn’t recommend it. Least I’m funny like Ha ! Ha ! Lib Dem men are funny like wearing dresses and makeup and calling themselves she and her.
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R
I sped through my DVR recording the next day of his performance so we’re even.
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G
Wow !! Guess you showed him a thing or two !! 🙄
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G
People can be so rude. I think fame went to his head and made a Maga even meaner.
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G
See there you go trying to think again. Gotta have a brain to do that.
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B
Never heard of him... must not be too important..... probably last time he will be invited to anything now that he proved himself. And nobody will care.
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G
I’m pretty sure he could care less that You never heard of him. And I’m also pretty sure he’ll get invited to plenty outside of NYC.
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S
I noticed that Morgan Wallen walked away and I wondered what was going on. 🤷🏼♀️
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A
I did too!
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O
Wallen is the one who refused to obey Covid protocols and got bounced from SNL at the last minute in 2020. BUT then Jack White was brought in and played one of the most blazing guitar solos I've heard in my lifetime, bringing a moment of joy to the pandemic shutdown. Get back to God's country, Morgan, and thank God for Jack White.
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G
Maybe his brain at the time ,was on airplane mode.He didn't know any better.
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G
@Hollywoodsux SNL dearly Loves to dish out harsh and sometimes down right cruel humor. But they and their fans just can’t take it when it comes back their way. I used to watch it a long long time ago before it got so political. And political to SNL is 98% conservative bashing. How I know this is I see the occasional brief clips which are sickening enough. And some conservative media lets us know what they do sometimes. See in their world anything bashing President Trump, GOP, and Conservatives is side splitting funny. The clowns don’t realize they may have played a role in helping get President Trump reelected. So I guess I really should be thanking them. 😀🤣😂
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G
Exactly !! Spot on !!
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G
@ HolllywoodSux Yep, there’s that. 😂
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G
comment down the line you piece of trash, you're still flipping burgers and destined for a double wide
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G
Maybe he should have set a Tesla on fire on stage. He’d have gotten a standing ovation and inducted into the SNL Hall Of Fame. 🙄 But then again NOT !! Going back to God’s Country and ignoring them was the best thing and he did that.
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G
Unclassy to comment on what he did to the media without first contacting him and asking why he did it or if he was mad about something. Shame on Keenan. Maybe he thought when the credits rolled it was over. Maybe he doesn't watch the show. Maybe Keenan should have told him how to handle the curtain call. Maybe he does that at his own shows. Done, wave, walk off. Why would anyone comment to a reporter that they didn't like what he did without talking to him to understand it first?
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G
Exactly !! Well said ! Anyone can ASSume why he walked off during the credits but until HE tells his side it’s mere speculation. As far as God’s Country thats a common term for Rural or living out in the country away from the city and suburbs. At least it’s common in my neck of the woods.This is much ado about nothing. Some people Look for opportunities to be offended.
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G
You’re right! The part of the hillbilly being an ASS
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G
Yeah your an expert on Ass as you see one every time you look in the mirror.
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O
Another Trump Huffer speaks his ugly
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R
Maybe he's just dumb redneck asshole who has no respect. He should be glad they even had him back.
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O
Another Trump Huffer speaks his ugly
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G
Maybe he doesn’t know the protocol. Why are you making excuses for this classless act?
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