Jack White has stepped in as this week’s Saturday Night Live musical guest after country singer Morgan Wallen was disinvited earlier this week for flouting COVID-19 safety protocols. The decorated guitarist/vocalist/bandleader will join host Bill Burr to round out the ensemble for the second episode of the show’s 46th season, set to air on October 10th.
The appearance will mark the third time Jack White has served as the SNL musical guest as a solo act and his fourth time overall. The news comes following this week’s announcement of a new The White Stripes greatest hits album.
The long-running sketch comedy/variety show just returned to hosting the show in its famous home at Studio 8H at New York City’s 30 Rockefeller Center. In order to do so, the show has put a number of strict safety protocols in place.
Wallen, who was set to make his SNL debut on Saturday, was disinvited after photos and videos from a recent night out in Alabama surfaced on Twitter and TikTok showing Wallen painting the town red at house parties and crowded bars without a mask, making out with multiple young women, and more. Wallen was reportedly in town for a University of Alabama football game on October 3rd, and engaged in the behavior in question thereafter.
In a video posted to his Instagram on Wednesday, Wallen apologized for his actions which would have put others at risk, as well as to his fans who looked forward to seeing his debut performance on the show.
“I respect the show’s decision because I know I put them in jeopardy, and I take ownership for this. I’d like to apologize to SNL, to my fans, to my team for bringing me these opportunities, and I let them down,” he said.
Wallen also stated in his video that SNL executive producer and creator Lorne Michaels personally told him that they would find another time for him to perform. Despite that reassuring news, Wallen also stated that he was going to take some time to focus on self improvement, warning fans that “it may be a second before you hear from me for a while, but I’m gonna go work on me.”
“And on a more personal note, I think I have some growing up to do,” he added. “I think I lost myself a little bit. I tried to find joy in the wrong places and, I don’t know, it’s left me with less joy, so I’m going to try to work on that. I’m going to take a step back from the spotlight for a little while and go work on myself. I wish I could have made country music and my fans proud this Saturday, but I respect the decision once again.”
Scroll down to see Morgan Wallen’s Instagram video addressing Saturday Night Live rescinding its invitation, as well as videos of Wallen partying without a mask in Alabama.
View this post on Instagram
I’ve seen like 87 tiktoks similar to this one. Morgan Wallen belongs to the streets. pic.twitter.com/LNeZVc3v6v
—
Tyne
TyneLet us take a moment to recognize that Morgan Wallen is a total dirt bag. Most of the girls in this video are 19 years old. As a reminder, he is 27 with a baby.
Round of applause, dude.@MorganWallen pic.twitter.com/3UyH2Qsw84
— Heather Kirk (@heatherkirkk) October 4, 2020
@whitneyleibold
I met @morganwallen last night in the best place!! still not over it ##fyp##foryou##morganwallen##rolltide
@tanisong15
@morganwallen came to bama today and all my dreams came true ##fyp ##CollegeGotMeLike ##Duet ##morganwallen ##country ##rolltide ##alabama
[H/T Rolling Stone]
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