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The 22 Most Controversial Saturday Night Live Moments

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For over half a century, Saturday Night Live has had its fair share of contentious moments. Occasionally, the late-night show deliberately invites such situations, as with Chevy Chase who intentionally used a racial slur during SNL’s inaugural season. At other times, unexpected backlash can erupt spontaneously. For instance, Sinead O’Connor’s controversial protest against the Catholic Church took even the show’s creator Lorne Michaels, known for his dislike of surprises, by surprise. As you’ll notice, musicians often cause a stir when they perform live from New York.

In the annals of Saturday Night Live (SNL), certain instances that provoke strong reactions from viewers, despite appearing somewhat tame by today’s standards of scandal, are often remembered as the most contentious. Trust us, Ashlee Simpson’s lip-sync mishap was a significant event back then. Other instances, such as Alec Baldwin’s clash with the Boy Scouts of America or the satirical portrayal of then First Daughter Chelsea Clinton in Wayne’s World, continue to be topics that might ignite passionate discussions on our modern social media platforms.

In this list, all items are ordered by when they occurred, and there was one condition: the dispute needed to be linked to an event that happened during a live broadcast. Therefore, Shane Gillis being hired and then dismissed in 2019 before his Studio 8H debut didn’t meet the criteria, but Adrien Brody’s peculiar dreadlocks did qualify because they were associated with a live television incident.

Below, the 22 most controversial moments in SNL history. 

Chevy Chase says the N-word (1975)

The “Word Association” sketch is arguably the most debated and yet highly regarded skit in the show’s entire run. In its debut during the first season, it features Chevy Chase as a seemingly ordinary manager interviewing the night’s host, Richard Pryor, for a position. The decisive round of this interview game involves a word association challenge. As the exchange proceeds, Chase’s words gradually become increasingly racist, culminating in the use of a racial slur, which is startling and intentional. This sketch was reportedly influenced by comedian Paul Mooney’s own experiences with NBC executives, during Pryor’s insistence for his involvement. However, what might be even more surprising is how Pryor, without skipping a beat, asserts his authority over his future boss using some pointed words of his own.

The Claudine Longet Invitational (1976)

Following a comedy sketch that mockingly portrayed Claudine Longet, the French pop singer and former wife of Andy Williams who was arrested for fatally shooting her lover, professional skier Vladimir “Spider” Sabich earlier that year, lawyers for Longet sent a letter demanding the show to stop. The potential legal action against the sketch, which depicted Longet accidentally firing at several contestants in a men’s freestyle skiing competition, prompted Saturday Night Live (SNL) to issue its first on-air apology. The following week, announcer Don Pardo informed the audience that the show wished to clarify any confusion about implying a real crime had occurred. They acknowledged that the satire was fictitious and intended for humor only. This statement served as an apology in case the material was misunderstood. Longet, after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide, spent 30 days in jail.

Elvis Costello bucks the system (1977)

On December 17, 1977, Elvis Costello and his band The Attractions first appeared on Saturday Night Live. Just before taking the stage, Costello spontaneously altered his performance plan, causing a bit of displeasure to the show’s producer, Lorne Michaels.

At the request of his record label, Costello planned to sing “Less Than Zero.” However, just a few measures into the performance, he unexpectedly changed to “Radio Radio,” a song expressing disapproval towards the commercialization of radio broadcasting. Addressing the crowd, he apologized, saying, “I’m sorry, folks, but there’s no need for this song here.” According to reports, Michaels was enraged that Costello hadn’t consulted him about the change and expressed his displeasure by giving him the middle finger while standing offstage until the song ended.

Costello declared that his bold action was a tribute to Jimi Hendrix and later explained it was a strategy to draw attention to his band. Whatever the motivation, this move led to Costello being barred from the show until 1989. However, in the end, Costello had the final say in this matter. In 1999, he recreated that memorable incident during SNL’s 25th anniversary special, interrupting the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” performance to play “Radio Radio” with the trio as his backup band.

Fear wreaks all-out havoc (1981)

In that Halloween special of the year, which was hosted by none other than Donald Pleasance from the movie “Halloween”, the Los Angeles hardcore band Fear made an impressive performance and left the stage in ruins. For those who might be curious about how a rebellious punk band managed to appear on mainstream television, it’s all due to John Belushi, a former cast member. He persuaded Saturday Night Live to give them a chance, even going as far as suggesting he wouldn’t show up for his planned appearance that week if they weren’t chosen as the musical act.

During the Saturday Night Live (SNL) show, Belushi helped bring genuine fans to the audience, such as Ian MacKaye from Fugazi and Minor Threat. These punk rock enthusiasts gave an intense performance that prompted immediate complaints to NBC, causing them to switch to a pre-prepared sketch instead of the live show. The following day, it was disclosed that the band and their energetic fans might have caused SNL damages ranging from $10,000 to $200,000. Although the exact amount remains debated, people who were there claimed they were forced out of the building after someone threw a pumpkin into the crowd, allegedly striking SNL producer Dick Ebersol. This chaotic event led to Fear being banned from SNL, an honor Lee Ving, the band’s singer, has always considered significant. “They swore that night they would never air our footage again,” he told Rolling Stone in 2015. “As a result, I have become one of the select few who have been permanently banned.

Andy Kaufman gets voted off SNL (1982)

By November 1982, eccentric comedian Andy Kaufman was well-established as a regular feature on Saturday Night Live (SNL), having performed live from New York City ten times between 1977 and 1979, either lip syncing to the “Mighty Mouse” theme or engaging in his contentious “intergender” wrestling act. However, this specific appearance was part of a prank that would eventually turn against him.

Under the advice of executive producer Dick Ebersol, who was reportedly tired of Kaufman’s behavior, the audience was encouraged to participate in a vote on whether Kaufman should be permanently barred from the show. During the episode that seven-year-old Drew Barrymore hosted, cast members announced the phone numbers for viewers to decide whether to keep or remove Kaufman.

In a bold move, Eddie Murphy even warned the audience they’d face consequences if he wasn’t kept on the show. Meanwhile, Mary Gross sped through her “Dump Andy” skit at breakneck speed, hoping it would be too fast for the crowd to understand. The episode concluded with the announcement that 195,544 viewers had voted to remove Kaufman, while 169,186 had chosen to keep him.

In January 1983, Kaufman made a comeback to the show through a prerecorded segment where he begged the audience to allow him to rejoin. Unfortunately, Kaufman passed away the next year without getting another chance to appear on the show again.

Matthew Broderick visits a nude beach (1988)

In a new role as host, Matthew Broderick starred in a daring sketch penned by Robert Smigel and Conan O’Brien. It depicted him as a man visiting a nudist beach for the first time. Uncomfortable with his lack of clothing around so many strangers, he found solace in his friend, portrayed by Dana Carvey, who encouraged him to relax and forget about it quickly. However, the unexpected predicament was that every person they encountered seemed preoccupied with discussing genitalia matters.

In the span of four minutes during their skit, the word “penis” was used over 40 times, pushing the boundaries with the censors. As Conan O’Brien shared on his podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend in 2024, there were objections raised that it couldn’t be done. However, they countered by stating that since “penis” is part of the human anatomy, it should be acceptable to discuss it openly.

In the end, they successfully persuaded NBC’s censors that the term was technical rather than vulgar. Regrettably, not everyone was convinced, with Reverend Donald Wildmon, founder of the American Family Association, urgging his supporters to express their disapproval in letters to NBC. This led to an influx of 46,000 angry letters and a loss of advertisers. As Lorne Michaels stated on the Fly on the Wall podcast in 2022, “We lost Toyota, we lost several major sponsors.” This was because dealerships associated with central headquarters in Mississippi would receive calls from customers protesting, asking why they were supporting the show.

Andrew Dice Clay causes a boycott (1990)

When it became known that controversial stand-up comedian Andrew Dice Clay, recognized for his crude humor, was set to make his debut as a host in May 1990, cast member Nora Dunn opted to boycott the episode, stating, “I don’t want to contribute to creating a platform for him to gain legitimacy since I don’t believe he deserves it.” Similarly, musical guest Sinead O’Connor declined to appear. As a result, creator Lorne Michaels was compelled to defend his decision to have Clay host, explaining to the Los Angeles Times, “We’re not asking [O’Connor] to endorse Andrew Dice Clay—we were merely asking her to perform two songs. What often gets overlooked in all of this is that we’re discussing a comedian.” He also told the Associated Press, “We respect Nora Dunn’s stance on this issue, but the show will continue as planned.

Reflecting on the night, even the unpredictable Diceman was brought under control by Saturday Night Live. His sole contentious act unfolded at the start of the show when he shot back with an anti-gay remark towards hecklers who were ejected for shouting, “Clay, you’re racist, sexist, anti-gay, just go away!” during his opening monologue. Yet, despite this incident, the episode became SNL’s highest-rated show of the season, demonstrating once more that there truly is no such thing as bad publicity.

Nirvana’s censored makeout sesh (1992) 

Nirvana initially unveiled their SNL premiere with live renditions of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Territorial Pissings” from the album Nevermind. The show concluded dramatically as they destroyed their instruments on stage, an action that necessitated them using less expensive equipment when they returned to the show the subsequent year due to producers’ insistence. However, it was a passionate kiss during the closing credits that stirred up quite a fuss among some viewers.

At the end of the performance, those who stayed until the very last moment got to see drummer Kris Novoselic exchange passionate kisses with bandmates Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl during the farewell. These quick pecks were intended, as the band later explained, to infuriate conservative and homophobic audiences—and they certainly succeeded in doing so. NBC omitted these kisses from all subsequent broadcasts, instead airing a closing scene without the goodbye kisses.

Sinead O’Connor rips a photo of the Pope (1992)

One noteworthy and memorable incident in the history of Saturday Night Live could be when the late Sinead O’Connor publicly demonstrated against sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

During her second rendition of Bob Marley’s “War,” sung acapella, the bold Irish singer, known for her outspokenness, tore a photograph of Pope John Paul II in the final moments and exclaimed, “Stand against the true adversary.” The response was swift and severe. In her 2021 memoir, Rememberings, she described the aftermath: as she finished the song, an eerie silence enveloped the venue, a silence that was partly due to the show’s director Davey Wilson, who refused to light the “applause” sign. Upon returning stage, O’Connor found herself alone, with all doors closed and everyone vanished, including her own manager who locked himself away for three days and disconnected his phone. (In the 2002 book SNL oral history, Live From New York, it is mentioned that O’Connor had intended to speak out against child abuse all along, but had used a different photograph during rehearsals. The switch, it was said, was what upset some members of the cast and crew.)

In the aftermath, O’Connor was permanently barred from Saturday Night Live and faced criticism not only from conservative religious groups but also celebrities like Joe Pesci. A week later, during his SNL monologue, Pesci publicly criticized her. Later on SNL, Madonna ridiculed O’Connor by tearing a picture of Joey Buttafuoco, then a popular tabloid figure, on air. Despite the negative impact on her career, O’Connor never regretted her decision to voice her opinions. As she put it in her memoir, “People want a pop star, but I am a protest singer. I simply had things I needed to express.

Wayne’s World mocks Chelsea Clinton (1992)

A joke made by Mike Myers during an episode of Saturday Night Live about Chelsea Clinton led to an apology from him. In the cold open of the December episode, Wayne (Myers) and his friend Garth (Dana Carvey) discussed their favorite things about President-elect Bill Clinton. The humor included comments about his healthcare plan, short running shorts, and his 12-year-old daughter being referred to as a “future fox” and a “babe-in-waiting.” Many people, including President and First Lady Hillary Clinton, criticized the joke for being inappropriate and out of line. The jokes about the young girl were removed from the sketch, and Myers wrote an apology letter to Chelsea and her family. Later, Lorne Michaels explained that the humor wasn’t worth causing any hurt and that Chelsea, a child who didn’t choose public life, was the focus.

Alec Baldwin upsets the Boy Scouts of America (1994)

As a movie critic, I found myself squirming in my seat during Saturday Night Live’s sketch, “Canteen Boy and the Scoutmaster.” In this comedic piece, Adam Sandler reprises his role as an innocent, aging Boy Scout, who finds himself in a questionable situation with his scoutmaster, portrayed that week by Alec Baldwin. The humor here was certainly divisive, sparking outrage among viewers, even the Boy Scouts of America themselves, due to its seemingly flippant treatment of pedophilia.

In the aftermath, NBC reported an astounding 300,000 angry phone calls on that very night and lost a staggering seven affiliates. To clear the air, a disclaimer was promptly added at the beginning of the sketch, explaining that Canteen Boy is not a minor but rather a naive 27-year-old individual, who, surprisingly for his age, remains active in scouting activities.

Martin Lawrence is not safe for late night (1994)

Martin Lawrence’s debut as the show host turned out to be his last due to a monologue that touched on feminine hygiene, which didn’t sit well with the censors. This occurred just a week after the controversy surrounding Baldwin’s “Canteen Boy” sketch. In the re-run of the episode, Saturday Night Live replaced Lawrence’s explicit references to female anatomy with a voiceover and a title card stating, “Although we at Saturday Night Live maintain a neutral stance on this matter, network policy does not allow us to rebroadcast this part of his remarks.” There were rumors that the monologue led to Lawrence being banned from the show. However, Lawrence himself has clarified in 2020 on The Breakfast Club that he is no longer banned from Saturday Night Live. At one point, he was temporarily banned by NBC, but then they realized the situation was misunderstood and sent him an apology letter.

Rage Against the Machine get the boot (1996)

Rage Against the Machine’s effort to voice dissent against the night’s presenter, wealthy publisher and ex-Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes, led to their exclusion from Saturday Night Live.

The outspoken band displayed upside-down flags on their amplifiers, a symbol often associated with distress. However, these were taken down before they performed, due to concerns it might offend the advertisers. Morello, in response to this incident, stated to the Los Angeles Times, “Freedom of speech is turned on its head when you can say anything you wish until it angers a corporate sponsor.” He further commented, “SNL suppressed Rage, plain and simple.

The secret move, unknown to anyone at home, compelled the show to prevent the band from playing their second song. Displeased by this, bassist Tim Commerford tore apart one of the flags, marched into Forbes’ dressing room and started throwing flag fragments at the politician’s group. As a result, the band was evicted from the building and has not been back on SNL since. Unfazed by this, drummer Brad Wilk supposedly remarked later, “It would have been another matter if that show had been truly amusing. But I could concoct a bowl of alphabet soup with orange juice and excrete better skits than the ones I saw that night.

Norm Macdonald gets fired (1998)

In his role as “Weekend Update” host from 1994 to 1997, Norm Macdonald effortlessly poked fun at the day’s prominent figures, such as O.J. Simpson. Even after Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in 1995, Macdonald didn’t hesitate to make jokes about him. Following his acquittal, Macdonald joked on “Weekend Update” that murder is now legal in California. This apparently displeased producer Don Ohlmeyer, who was then the president of NBC’s west coast division and a close friend to Simpson.

When Macdonald was dismissed midseason from “Weekend Update” in January 1998, just before the start of the new year, many speculated it was due to those jokes about Simpson. However, shortly after the news of his dismissal broke, Macdonald revealed on The Late Show with David Letterman that Ohlmeyer had actually told him he was being let go because he simply wasn’t funny. “It’s just a matter of opinion,” Macdonald explained to Letterman. “He also believes O.J. is innocent.

Jimmy Fallon impersonates Chris Rock in blackface (2000)

2020 saw a resurgence of a video clip from Season 25, featuring Jimmy Fallon in blackface mimicking Chris Rock. Following criticism on social media platforms, the late-night host promptly issued an apology. “In 2000, while I was on SNL, I made a regrettable choice to portray Chris Rock in blackface,” he admitted. “There is no justification for this action, and I deeply regret making such an offensive decision. I am grateful for all those who have held me accountable.” Chris Rock himself commented on the matter, speaking with the New York Times. He explained that he considers Fallon a friend and does not believe the impression was intended to cause harm: “While many argue intention doesn’t matter, it does,” Rock said. “I don’t think Jimmy Fallon intended to offend me, and he didn’t.

Adrien Brody dons dreadlocks, goes off script (2003)

During his first time hosting the show, Adrien Brody chose to present musical guest Sean Paul while sporting fake dreadlocks and adopting a Jamaican accent, which some found culturally insensitive. This incident was rumored to have led to Brody being barred from the show for the past 20 years. However, last year, Brody clarified his version of events to Vulture, stating that the idea was his own and received a positive response from the team. “Everyone was astonished by my suggestion,” he said. “I think Lorne [Michaels] wasn’t too pleased with my exaggeration, but they allowed me to do it. I thought it was an accepting environment for such humor, strangely.” To his knowledge, he was not officially banned from the show, but he also admitted that he hasn’t been invited back since then. “I don’t know what else to tell you,” he said.

Ashlee Simpson’s lip-sync fail (2004)

The “scandal” surrounding Ashlee Simpson’s performance on Saturday Night Live now appears rather trivial. During her second performance that evening, playing “Autobiography,” Simpson accidentally lip-synced to the wrong track, which was actually meant for her first song of the night, “Pieces of Me.” She attempted to dance a bit to alleviate the awkwardness before exiting the stage as the show went on break. Last year, Simpson revealed on the Broad Ideas With Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen podcast that her inability to sing live that night was due to losing her voice prior to the show. Her record label insisted the show continue, an instance she now wishes she had challenged. “It was a humbling experience for me,” said Simpson. “I was at the peak of my success and then everything came to a halt. It was like, ‘whoa.’ The harsh comments from grown-up critics were hard to endure. I had to learn how to ignore them, find my courage, and rise again.” However, she did just that; she returned to Saturday Night Live the following year with a flawless live performance.

Jenny Slate says the F-word (2009)

Jenny Slate wasn’t the initial SNL cast or team member to utter the F-word on live television; that title belongs to original house band member Paul Shaffer. However, her use of the expletive during her SNL debut propelled her to both fame and notoriety.

During the first episode, Maya Rudolph appeared in a skit titled “Biker Gals’ Talk” alongside Kristen Wiig and host Kristen Stewart. In this skit, Rudolph frequently said the phrase “freakin”. At one instance, she unintentionally uttered the word “f–king”, which was apparent on her surprised expression as she realized her mistake. Despite this unexpected incident, Wiig skillfully continued acting as if nothing had happened.

After only one season on the show, Slate chose to leave. Contrary to popular belief, her departure wasn’t due to a mistake she made, but rather because she felt she didn’t fit in or perform well. In an interview with InStyle in 2019, she admitted, “I just didn’t belong there. I didn’t do a good job, I didn’t click.” She went on to say, “I have no idea how [SNL creator] Lorne Michaels felt about me. All I know is, it didn’t work for me, and I was let go.

Presidential candidate Donald Trump hosts (2015)

During November 2015, President Donald Trump made his first appearance as the host on Saturday Night Live (SNL), five months following his initial presidential campaign announcement. This decision to have Trump host during a contentious presidential election sparked disapproval, particularly among former SNL cast and crew, who felt that his presence on the show amounted to an endorsement. In the 2025 biography titled “Lorne: The Man Who Created Saturday Night Live,” author Susan Morrison revealed that members of the SNL cast expressed feelings of shame and anger. Many believed that SNL shared some accountability for Trump’s election victory.

Safelite complains, SNL replaces sketch (2017)

In an episode of October, Gal Gadot served as the host and presented a humorous advertisement spoof for Safelite Autoglass. However, there was a scene where a repairman intentionally damaged a woman’s windshield to flirt with her underage daughter, causing an uproar. Safelite expressed their disapproval by tweeting that they were “disappointed” in the sketch, stating that while they appreciate humor, this particular joke went too far and their technicians are valued as heroes. Ultimately, Saturday Night Live decided to remove the sketch from further airings, replacing it with a different clip featuring Kyle Mooney rapping about something less contentious: Gadot stealing his last fry.

Pete Davidson mocks Dan Crenshaw (2018)

In a controversial move, comedian Pete Davidson drew criticism after mocking Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw’s eyepatch during a comedy segment on “Weekend Update.” His joke, referring to Crenshaw as looking like a character from an adult film rather than a politician, was particularly insensitive given that Crenshaw lost his eye while serving in Afghanistan in 2012.

In response to a joke that sparked death threats, Davidson publicly apologized to Crenshaw on air a week later. Crenshaw retaliated by roasting Davidson during a public event, commenting on his resemblance to “a Troll doll with a tapeworm” and “Martin Short in the Santa Clause 3.” Two years later, Davidson stated that he was coerced into apologizing to Crenshaw. In his 2020 Netflix special titled “Alive From New York,” he explained, “I didn’t feel I had done anything wrong. It seemed like words were manipulated so that someone could gain fame.” Crenshaw playfully downplayed the comment on Fox & Friends, remarking, “He can’t seem to stop thinking about me. It’s a bit sad.

Dave Chappelle called out for anti-semitic monologue (2022)

In November 2022, Dave Chappelle hosted a show for the third time, but controversy surrounded him due to transphobic comments in his Netflix special, “The Closer.” During this performance, he didn’t address the transphotism debate, instead criticizing Kanye West and basketball player Kyrie Irving over their recent anti-Semitic remarks. However, Chappelle’s humor touched on anti-Semitic stereotypes, suggesting that West’s assertions about Jewish control of media and Hollywood weren’t entirely incorrect. “I’ve been to Hollywood – it’s full of Jews,” he joked. This joke sparked criticism from many, including Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, who tweeted, “It’s disconcerting to see @nbcsnl not only normalize but popularize #antisemitism… Why are Jewish sensitivities dismissed or diminished at every turn?” Chappelle didn’t respond to these criticisms, but when he appeared again on the show in January 2025, after his controversial monologue, he steered clear of controversy and instead advocated for unity as President Trump started his second term. His monologue that night was a record-breaking 17 minutes long, surpassing his own previous record of 16 minutes from 2020.

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2025-02-15 16:09

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