Singer Morgan Wallen has been dropped from this week’s Saturday Night Live after footage surfaced of him partying without social distancing.
The country musician, 27, was due to perform on Saturday’s (10 October) episode of the live comedy show, which will be hosted by comedian Bill Burr.
However, after footage emerged on TikTok of the 27-year-old partying, kissing girls and doing shots following a college football game the previous weekend, Wallen announced on Wednesday (7 October) night that his spot on SNL had been pulled.
“I got a call from the show letting me know that I will no longer be able to play, and that’s because of Covid protocols, which I understand,” he said in an IGTV video.
“I’m not positive for Covid but my actions this past weekend were pretty shortsighted and they have obviously affected my long-term goals and my dreams.”
Explaining that he “respected the show’s decision” to drop him after putting the cast in “jeopardy”, Wallen added that SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels had told him he would be given another spot on the show in the future.
Last weekend, Saturday Night Live returned for its first live, in-studio episode in months, with Chris Rock hosting and musical guest Megan Thee Stallion performing.
According to reports, the sketch show paid its audience members as though they were employees, in order to get around New York City’s pandemic-era guidelines.
TV productions in New York are currently not allowed to host audiences unless they consist of employees, cast members or staff.
