Saturday Night Live has been practically unrivaled in its domination of late-night weekend television since its beginning in 1975. Cast members’ success on the show almost guarantees them stardom in the future. A guest appearance can be a turning point in their careers for musicians, comedians, actors, and other public figures.
Because SNL only makes about 20 episodes a year, the people chosen to be the guest host or musical performers in those few episodes have a lot of success or are on the verge of it. Therefore, it’s a pity when celebrities are given a valuable opportunity only to have it vanish in their faces.
While hundreds of brilliant hosts, rocking bands, talented repertory players, and unforgettable singers have performed on the SNL stage at Rockefeller Center, only a few have managed to avoid being asked back. These are the major stars who have been barred from appearing on SNL.
1. Donald Trump
| Full Name | Donald John Trump |
| Date of Birth | June 14, 1946 |
| Place of Birth | Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Politician, media personality, and businessman |
Donald John Trump is a politician, media personality, and businessman from the United States. His birthday was on June 14, 1946, and he served as the United States’ 45th President from 2017 to 2021.
This is maybe “Saturday Night Live” at its most debatable. Lorne Michael requested Trump to host the show while campaigning for President in the run-up to the 2016 election in a truly ridiculous attempt to boost ratings. Despite his numerous personality faults, offensive campaign statements, and absolute lack of ability, the program allowed him to continue utilizing their show to enhance his signal.
Read more about Donald Trump’s height here.
2. Will Smith
| Full Name | Willard Carroll Smith II |
| Date of Birth | September 25, 1968 |
| Place of Birth | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, rapper, film producer |
Willard Carroll Smith II, for other people named Will Smith. Will is an American rapper and actor who was born on September 25, 1968. He goes by the stage name The Fresh Prince.
Will slapped Chris Rock for the final option’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shorn head at the 2022 Foundation Grants in the Spring.
After that, Will yelled twice at the comedian, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth!” Radar Online claims that the star of “King Richard” will never be invited back to “SNL.”
He has apologized multiple times for his actions during the live event.
Read more about Will Smith’s Height and his biography here.
3. Adrien Brody
| Full Name | Adrien Nicholas Brody |
| Date of Birth | April 14, 1973 |
| Place of Birth | Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
American actor Adrien Nicholas Brody was born on April 14, 1973. He garnered global acclaim and affection after playing Wladyslaw Szpilman in Roman Polanski’s The Pianist (2002), for which he won the Academy Award at 29. He was the youngest actor to win an Academy Award in that category. After Christopher Lambert, Brody is the second male American actor to win the César Award for Best Actor.
Even if only for how insane it was at the time, this bizarre one has legs. When introducing musician Sean Paul, Brody decided to deviate from the script. The issue? This included speaking with a broad Jamaican accent and donning a dreadlock wig. Brody hasn’t been back since, naturally.
4. Rage Against The Machine
| Full Name | Rage Against the Machine |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Rap metal, rap rock, funk metal, alternative metal |
| Members | Zack de la RochaTom MorelloTim CommerfordBrad Wilk |
Rage Against the Machine is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, U.S. Framed in 1991, the gathering comprises entertainer Zack de la Rocha, bassist and sponsorship singer Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk. The band is well-known for its revolutionary socialist political views and amalgamation of heavy metal and rap music with punk rock and funk influences.
When billionaire presidential candidate Steve Forbes hosted “Saturday Night Live,” the overtly political Rage Against the Machine performed as musical guests, what was the host thinking? Before performing, Rage hung upside-down American flags, which are typically a sign of distress. Before Rage Against the Machine could even start playing a second song, the flags were quickly taken down.
5. Martin Lawrence
| Full Name | Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence |
| Date of Birth | April 16, 1965 |
| Place of Birth | Frankfurt, West Germany |
| Occupation | Actor and comedian |
American actor and comedian Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence was born on April 16, 1965. He rose to stardom as a notable Hollywood actor in the 1990s. He also appeared in the Fox television series A Thin Line Between Love and Hate.
It is clear that before hosting “Saturday Night Live,” Lawrence did not read over his material.
Lawrence pressed hard, sounding rather explicit in his comments about female hygiene and genitalia.
In addition to being prohibited from the program, Lawrence’s name was also blacklisted for several seasons.
6. Sinead O’Connor
| Full Name | Sinéad Marie Bernadette O’Connor |
| Date of Birth | December 8, 1966 |
| Place of Birth | Glenageary, County Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation | Singer-songwritermusicianformer priest |
Shuhada Sadaqat is an Irish singer-songwriter. She was born Sinéad Marie Bernadette O’Connor on December 8, 1966. The Lion and the Cobra, her first album, was released in 1987 and reached the top of the worldwide album charts. The Billboard Music Awards named “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Prince’s lead single, the number one worldwide single in 1990.
One of the most well-known lines in “SNL” history did not come from a skit. No, instead of singing Bob Marley’s “War,” O’Connor tore a photo of the Pope to pieces and yelled, “Fight the true enemy!” Naturally, the problems O’Connor was screaming against within the Catholic Church are now starkly visible to us. She was mocked back then, and several times on “Saturday Night Live” in the years that followed.
7. Cypress Hill
| Full Name | Cypress Hill |
| Origin | South Gate, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, Latin hip hop, West Coast, hip hop, rap rock |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Cypress Hill is a hip-hop group from South Gate, California, in the United States. They have been a significant influence on West Coast and 1990s hip hop. The members of the group all support cannabis use for both medical and recreational purposes. The first hip-hop group to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was Cypress Hill in 2019.
Cypress Hill received a dressing room from SNL staffers, but they were instructed not to smoke marijuana there. Sen Dog, a bandmate, told the Village Voice that DJ Muggs “felt like he needed to make a statement with his performance.” That assertion? Smoking marijuana lives on television in 1993, when society was much more conservative.
“It wasn’t just the Saturday Night Live people saying he couldn’t smoke up on air,” Sen Dog recalled. Everyone was there: our management, record label, and friends.” Muggs attempted to light the joint himself after Sen Dog refused to do so. The rapper claimed that at the episode’s post-party, people associated with SNL told Cypress Hill that what they did was “so cool,” but that higher-ups disagreed. We were removed from Saturday Night Live forever after the hammer struck.”
8. Robert Blake
| Full Name | Michael James Gubitosi |
| Date of Birth | September 18, 1933 |
| Place of Birth | Nutley, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
A retired American actor, Robert Blake was born Michael James Gubitosi and is best known for appearing in the 1970s American television series Baretta (born September 18, 1933).
Bonnie Lee Bakley, the wife of Little Rascals and Baretta star Robert Blake, was killed in 2001. Blake was accused of shooting the gunman in 2005. Blake was found not guilty after a long and scandalous trial.
This is all NOT why Blake was prohibited from Saturday Night Live.
Although Blake hosted the show in 1982, he had yet to meet Bakley. However, throughout the episode, Blake displayed a vicious temper and insulted cast members in various ways. The final straw was an incident in which a script was ripped up and thrown at a writer.
9. The Replacements
| Full Name | The Replacements |
| Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Place of Birth | Genres |
| Years active | 1979–1991, 2006, 2012–2015 |
The Replacements was an American rock band formed in 1979. Originally a hardcore punk band, they are regarded as one of the ancestors of alternative rock.
The Replacements were a good band, but their live concerts were renowned for being sloppy and intoxicated. They didn’t want to deviate from tradition on “Saturday Night Live.” The band was inebriated during their first song and then changed clothes before their second drunken performance of the night. That degree of irresponsibility resulted in a ban.
10. Steven Seagal
| Full Name | Steven Frederic Seagal |
| Date of Birth | April 10, 1952 |
| Place of Birth | |
| Occupation | Actor, martial artist, and screenwriter |
American actor, martial artist, and screenwriter Steven Frederic Seagal was born on April 10, 1952.
As a 7th-dan black belt in aikido, Seagal finally took charge of his father-in-law law’s after starting his adult life as a martial arts teacher in Japan.
He later moved to Los Angeles, where he worked in the same sector and made his acting debut in the 1988 film Above the Law. By 1991, he had acted in four films.
Hundreds of hosts have passed through the “Saturday Night Live” studio, so Lorne Michaels calling you the worst host ever is saying a lot. This is the “honor” he conferred to Seagal, who appeared to be challenging to deal with. Let’s just say that we aren’t shocked. Later, when participating in a show presented by Nicolas Cage, Michaels criticized Seagal.
11. Andy Kauffman
| Full Name | Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman |
| Date of Birth | January 17, 1949 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, singer, dancer, performance artist, wrestler |
Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman was an American performer and entertainer who lived from January 17, 1949, until May 16, 1984. Despite frequently being referred to as a “comedian,” Kaufman preferred to refer to himself as a “song and dance man.” He has been referred to as an “anti-comedian.”
The entire purpose of Kaufman’s project was to arouse debate and prevent you from knowing what was true and what was phony. He definitely did it on “Fridays,” a different sketch comedy program. But he also carried his act to “Saturday Night Live.” In a specific episode, Kaufman requested audience feedback on whether or not he should be suspended from the program. In the end, “Dump Andy” triumphed over “Keep Andy,” and at Kaufman’s request, “SNL” fired him.
12. Fear
| Full Name | Fear |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Punk rock, hardcore punk |
| Years active | 1977–present |
Fear, a Los Angeles punk band, had such a strong influence on John Belushi that he agreed to appear on “Saturday Night Live” in 1981 in exchange for their participation as musical guests.
Even though the band had slam dancers with them, the concert continued.
Fear’s performance was cut short when its followers damaged property worth hundreds of dollars.
13. Milton Berle
| Full Name | Mendel Berlinger |
| Date of Birth | July 12, 1908 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
Milton Berle was born into a Jewish family, and when he was 16 years old, he chose Milton Berle as his professional name. Moses Berlinger, born in 1872 and died in 1938, was a paint and varnish salesman. When Milton became well-known, his mother, Sarah (Sadie) Glantz Berlinger (1877–1954), changed her name to Sandra Berle. He had three older brothers, the youngest being Jack, Phil, and Frank Berle Phil was an NBC programming executive, while the latter two worked on Berle’s TV production team for many years.
In 1979, Milton Berle made it clear to everyone how significant he was when he arrived on the Saturday Night Live set. He even began skits and jokes by saying, “Now, this might be over your heads.” This incited the cast to turn on Berle.
However, they were still experts and quick to see the task out. But things got worse when Berle got on stage as he promoted his autobiography and kept losing the cameras, and he never returned to the show.
14. Charles Grodin
| Full Name | Charles Sidney Grodin |
| Date of Birth | April 21, 1935 |
| Place of Birth | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, author, comedian |
Even though Charles Grodin (April 21, 1935 – May 18, 2021) is a well-known actor, he doesn’t matter much in the zany SNL halls. When you performed on SNL in 1977, you had to bring your A-game because the cast was so impressive. Gordin couldn’t even bother to do that.
Grodin, the star of Rosemary’s Baby, frequently skipped the show’s rehearsals and even attempted to improvise lines after arriving late, both of which were significant mistakes in the world of Saturday Night Live.
However, perhaps his biggest mistake was failing to blend in with the exuberant cast, particularly John Belushi, who stated that Grodin’s most significant issue was that “he doesn’t smoke dope,” confirming, “He’s not one of us.”
15. Elvis Costello
| Full Name | Declan Patrick MacManus |
| Date of Birth | August 25, 1954 |
| Place of Birth | London, England |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
Elvis Costello, professionally known as Declan Patrick MacManus OBE, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer born on August 25, 1954.
The episode of “SNL,” aired on December 17, 1977, featured two bizarre events. First, Miskel Spillman, an 80-year-old German immigrant who had won an “Anybody Can Host” competition, served as the host. Two, Elvis Costello, a musician, decided to switch the show and his record label. After being asked to sing “Less Than Zero,” Costello stopped his band, apologized, and started playing “Radio, Radio.” Even though it caused him controversy at the time, sanity prevailed, and Costello mocked it in the show’s 25th-anniversary special.
16. Louise Lasser
| Full Name | Louise Marie Lasser |
| Date of Birth | April 11, 1939 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, NY, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, television writer, educator, and artistic director |
Actress, television writer, educator, and artistic director Louise Marie Lasser hails from the United States. On April 11, 1939, she was born.
On July 24, 1976, Lasser hosted the final episode of Saturday Night Live’s inaugural season. Her opening monologue, in which she recreates a nervous breakdown resembling Mary Hartman and locks herself in her dressing room, is the part of her performance that is most well-known. Chevy Chase/Land Shark then persuades her to leave with the promise of appearing on the cover of Time.
According to some reports, Lasser was the first to be banned from SNL due to her erratic behavior on the show.
17. David Bowie
| Full Name | David Robert Jones |
| Date of Birth | January 8, 1947 |
| Place of Birth | London, England |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter, actor |
David Robert Jones, who was born on January 8, 1947, and died on January 10, 2016, was an English actor and singer-songwriter. David Bowie was his professional name.
Following an act of disobedience, he was escorted off the premises of SNL.
David Bowie was allegedly once prohibited from performing on Saturday Night Live.
Bowie’s tumultuous history with executive producer Lorne Michaels led in a three-year suspension for the Starman, who couldn’t help but poke fun at his old pal after preparing to perform a series of comic routines.
18. System Of A Down
| Full Name | System of a Down |
| Origin | Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative metal, nu metal, heavy metal, hard rock, progressive metal |
| Years active | 1994–20062010–present |
In 1994, the Armenian-American heavy metal group System of a Down (often referred to as SoaD or just System) was founded in Glendale, California.
System of a Down were booked to perform ‘Bring Your Own Bombs’ on SNL. The track was written in protest against the Iraq War and heavily leaned towards stringent rules set out by the show’s producers. Guitarist Daron Malakian refused to perform an edited version of the song, leading to production staff having to hold back most of the performance until he proudly shouted “f*** yeah” in protest.
19. Frank Zappa
| Full Name | Frank Vincent Zappa |
| Date of Birth | December 21, 1940 |
| Place of Birth | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation | Musician, composer, songwriter, bandleader |
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American musician, composer, and bandleader who was born on December 21, 1940, and died on December 4, 1993.
Even if you aren’t a fan of Frank Zappa, you can probably picture him proudly hosting “SNL,” right? That’s precisely what transpired.
Zappa continued to mug for the camera and even claimed to be reading from cue cards to the audience.
He probably made himself laugh, but no one on the show seemed to be having fun.
20. Kanye West
| Full Name | Kanye Omari West |
| Date of Birth | June 8, 1977 |
| Place of Birth | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer |
Kanye Omari West, aka Ye; American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer (born June 8, 1977).
When doesn’t Kanye make a big deal out of himself? Despite being instructed not to do so, West concluded an episode in 2018 with a performance.
During his performance, the show ended, but afterward, while cast members were uncomfortable in the wings, he began to scold the audience. It was like being held hostage, according to Kenan Thompson.
If you find Kanye West, an interesting person, you may want to find out more about Kanye West’s height and biography here.
21. Ashlee Simpson
| Full Name | Ashley Simpson |
| Date of Birth | October 3, 1984 |
| Place of Birth | Waco, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, actress, dancer, fashion designer |
An American singer and actress, Ashley Ross (born Ashley Simpson), is better known by her stage name Ashlee Simpson.
Strangely, Simpson is the only person to ever leave “Saturday Night Live” during a performance. Why is this? A mistake when lip-syncing. I find it odd that anyone would be scandalized by a pop musician lip-synching during a performance, particularly on a show like “SNL.” However, Simpson awkwardly danced and left the stage when the wrong song started playing during her performance.
22. Chevy Chase
| Full Name | Cornelius Crane Chase |
| Date of Birth | October 8, 1943 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Comedian, actor and writer |
Cornelius Crane “Chevy” Chase, an American comedian, actor, and writer, was born on October 8, 1943. Chevy Chase was one of the original members of Saturday Night Live. Chevy Chase has always had a controversial reputation, even in its first run.
Production that week was stressful. Chase gave some deeply offensive sketches and frequently criticized the actors. Last straw: He slapped Cheri O’Teri “as a joke,” and Will Ferrell told Michaels immediately. Chase has now been banned as a host on Saturday Night Live but still appears as a non-host guest.
23. Morgan Wallen
| Full Name | Morgan Cole Wallen |
| Date of Birth | May 13, 1993 |
| Place of Birth | Sneedville, Tennessee, US |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter |
American country music performer and songwriter Morgan Cole Wallen was born on May 13, 1993.
Wallen participated in The Voice’s sixth season, first joining Usher’s team and then switching to Adam Levine’s. He signed with Panacea Records following his elimination from that season’s playoffs, and in 2015, his debut EP, Stand Alone, was made available.
The early cast of “Saturday Night Live” was famous for their wild parties.
“SNL” canceled the country singer’s visit to party at an Alabama bar during the COVID-19 pandemic without wearing a mask. SNL canceled the schedule due to his dangerous behavior.
24. Andrew Dice Clay
| Full Name | Andrew Clay Silverstein |
| Date of Birth | September 29, 1957 |
| Place of Birth | Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Stand-up comedian and actor |
Andrew Dice Clay, a.k.a. Andrew Clay Silverstein, was born September 29, 1957, is an American actor and standup comedian.
Even though the well-known schtick of Andrew Dice Clay was a character, his simple routine, which was full of sexist jokes, was not for everyone. Cast member Nora Dunn said she would not participate in the episode protesting Clay’s standup when the Dice Man was invited to host. The Dunn-free episode goes off without a hitch, despite reports that some hecklers were removed from the audience.
25. Charles Rocket
| Full Name | Charles Adams Claverie |
| Date of Birth | August 28, 1949 |
| Place of Birth | Bangor, Maine, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, musician, and television news reporter |
Charles Adams Claverie was an American actor, comedian, musician, and television news reporter. He was born on August 28, 1949, and died on October 7, 2005. He went by the stage names Charlie Hamburger, Charlie Kennedy, and Charles Rocket. He appeared as Dave Dennison in Disney’s Hocus Pocus, played the antagonist Nicholas Andre in Dumb and Dumber, and was a Saturday Night Live cast member.
We didn’t want to write an article with only people swearing and banned hosts, but they had to be included. Rocket, a cast member then, was the first to use the f-word on the show in 1981. Unlike other utterances, it didn’t seem like Rocket did it by accident. He wouldn’t stay with the show for very long.
26. Shane Gillis
| Full Name | Shane Gillis |
| Date of Birth | December 11, 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Stand-up comedian, radio personality, sketch comedy writer, and podcaster |
Shane Gillis is an American stand-up comedian, podcaster, radio host, and sketch comedy writer. He was born on December 11, 1987.
For most people, joining the cast of “Saturday Night Live” is a big deal, and it would have been significant for Shane Gillis. The issue? The internet remembers a lot. Several clips showed Gillis making racist remarks about Asians after announcing the hire. Because of this, Gillis was dropped from the cast before making his debut.
27. Jenny Slate
| Full Name | Jenny Sarah Slate |
| Date of Birth | March 25, 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Milton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian, and novelist |
American actress, comedian, and novelist Jenny Sarah Slate was born on March 25, 1982. Slate’s use of the f-word in her first episode as a cast member attracted a lot of attention due to her rise to fame and the fact that it hadn’t happened in a while.
This was also the first time the term was used during the era of social media. Slate was repeatedly asked to say “frickin” in the sketch. Anyone could have made that error.
28. Norm MacDonald
| Full Name | Norman Gene Macdonald |
| Date of Birth | October 17, 1959 |
| Place of Birth | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation | Stand-up comedian, actor, and writer |
Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, and writer Norman Gene Macdonald was born on October 17, 1959, and passed away on September 14, 2021.
MacDonald never hesitated to stir up controversy. He famously declared that “murder was now legal in California” following the O.J. Simpson verdict. The Canadian comedian has pondered the possibility that those jokes ultimately resulted in his dismissal.
However, when he said, “What the f___ was that?” in response to his coughing fit, he became the first person since Rocket to use that particular taboo word.