Lip Reader Reveals What Morgan Wallen Said Before Walking off the 'SNL' Set In His Viral Clip

During his "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) appearance on March 29, 2025, Morgan Wallen walked off the set abruptly while other cast members mingled. His demeanor, however, appears to have been misunderstood.

Over the weekend, country musician Morgan Wallen performed as the musical guest on SNL, sparking discussion after a now-viral clip circulated online. A lip reader has since shared their interpretation of what may have happened that night.

SNL posted a brief clip showing Wallen and the host, Mikey Madison, saying goodbye to the audience and viewers at the end of the episode. While looking straight into the camera, he touched his cap as a goodbye signal as the credits started to roll before hugging Madison.

After that, the singer walked off the set while the remaining cast members hugged, waved, and chatted in the background. According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, Wallen spoke to Madison before exiting the stage.

Hickling explained that Wallen didn't simply storm off, but instead said, "Thank you all so much, I had a wonderful time thank you all mwah mwah mwah."

Meanwhile, a user on X speculated about what Mikey Day might have said to another cast member. They believed Day commented on Wallen's sudden exit, allegedly saying, "That was weird." However, Hickling offered a different interpretation. She suggested that the SNL veteran actually said, "Chatting to you was really good."

The lip reader also examined what other cast members might have said in the background regarding the Wallen incident. She stated that Colin Jost appeared to tell another cast member, "You gotta remember how he is feeling," although the comment lacks clear context.

Kenan Thompson, who appeared on the same episode, shared that he was also puzzled by Wallen rushing off the stage. The comedian remarked, "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, who is the longest-tenured cast member on SNL, confirmed that he "definitely saw it" when Wallen left the stage prematurely. He explained, "You see somebody before you get a chance to say hi or say good job or anything like that, they just dipping. I thought maybe he had to go to the potty or something."

SNL fans are accustomed to seeing guests and cast members interacting on stage at the end of each show. Addressing the country singer's unexpected behavior, Thompson noted, "It's definitely a spike in the norm."

Describing the usual end-of-show atmosphere, the actor explained, "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?"

The comedian also recalled Wallen's previous appearance as a musical guest in December 2020, saying that he "never met" him at that time. However, based on recent observations, he reflected, "Seems like a complicated individual, I guess."

The "Kenan & Kel" star pointed out that the country singer wasn't the first guest to exit abruptly, stating, "Prince did the same thing." He clarified, "I'm not saying Morgan Wallen is Prince, but we weren't surprised because Prince was notoriously kind of standoffish. It's just how he was. So we just thought like, 'Okay, now he's gone back into fantasyland.'"

The comedian continued, "But Saturday I guess it was just different because it just felt so abrupt. And it was already such a small grouping on the stage anyway. So it was just like, oh wow, that was pretty visible. You know what I'm saying? It was a pretty visible thing."

Later that same night, Wallen posted a photo to his Instagram Story showing a private jet, accompanied by the caption "Get me to God's country." Thompson admitted that he did not appreciate the gesture.

The comedian expressed his concern, saying, "The 'God's country' of it all is strange because it's like, what are you trying to say? 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. We're here talking about GERD. We will be fine," Thompson concluded. The GERD Is No Joke campaign is being conducted in conjunction with Phathom Pharmaceuticals. It aims to raise awareness about the condition and treatment options, including Voquezna.

As previously reported, Wallen breaking traditional "Saturday Night Live" protocol has left fans questioning what happened. The star performed before making his abrupt departure at the end.

Many viewers picked up on Wallen's behavior, with one noting, "I watched his performances. He did his job well but you could see in his face he did not want to be there. Still sang good as always." Another individual agreed, "I don't blame him 👍."

Others believed the setup was intentional, with one person suggesting, "Notice the cast standing very far back. That’s how they protest the host or musical guest. The cast was making a statement and Wallen responded." One viewer also remarked, “The cast made a point to stay back.”

More people echoed this sentiment, as one viewer questioned the unusual gap and speculated that “they had to have provoked him” in some way, criticizing what they saw as a “holier than thou attitude.”

Another fan speculated about Wallen’s abrupt exit, "He didn't wanna stay there. People might could have important things to deal with in their lives. He probably didn't even wanna go. If he did then he wouldn't've walked off like that. Don know but it seems like they wanted him to be there for another reason [sic]."

Some fans saw nothing unusual about Wallen’s exit, with one stating that people were making an issue out of nothing. “The show was over & he left, end of story,” they wrote, adding that he wasn’t obligated to attend any after-party.

While Wallen hasn’t addressed the situation, his departure has fueled discussion about what may have happened behind the scenes.

On the show, as per a clip shared online, Madison appeared to have an easy rapport with Chloe Fineman, who joined them as they hosted, while Wallen looked at them oddly and seemed somewhat out of place.

Despite these unusual occurrences, Wallen had nothing to worry about when it came to his music. The singer delivered powerful performances of “I’m the Problem” and “Just in Case,” earning an enthusiastic response from the audience.

Both songs the singer performed are from his soon-to-be-released album called "I'm The Problem." Whatever tension may have lingered on stage between him and the cast, his music still took center stage.

Shortly after he exited the SNL show, Wallen posted the photo showing a private jet talking about returning to "God's country."

In response, SNL writer Josh Patten shared a picture of a Krispy Kreme doughnut truck, playfully captioning it with the same phrase.

Despite these responses, sources close to Wallen insist there was no hidden meaning behind his exit or Instagram post, dismissing speculation that it signaled any tension. They maintain that he had a great time on SNL and that his departure was not intended as a slight.

Additionally, those familiar with Wallen’s camp say his quick walk-off was nothing more than an unintentional slip. He had been entering and exiting the studio the same way throughout rehearsals and wasn’t focused on the cameras when he casually strolled offstage.

According to insiders, the moment was met with laughter behind the scenes, with no hard feelings on either side. Still, social media erupted with divided opinions. Some believed his exit was unintentional and simply a case of not thinking about how it would be perceived.

Others saw it as a deliberate snub toward the show, while most applauded him for what they viewed as a stand against a cast they assumed had been unwelcoming.

The SNL show has been on fans' tongues recently as they celebrated a milestone. The SNL 50th Anniversary Concert took place followed by the 50th Anniversary Special.

A-listers showed up for these events, showcasing a stunning array of celebrity fashion. Take a look at the stars who stole the spotlight with their standout ensembles at the SNL 50th Anniversary Special, on February 16 in New York. From singer-actress Miley Cyrus to veteran star Molly Shannon, check out photos of the most iconic outfits from the auspicious Hollywood event.

Sabrina Carpenter

The singer dazzled in a shimmering, off-the-shoulder gown adorned with intricate embellishments. The sheer fabric and sparkling details added a touch of elegance, while her flowing blonde waves completed the glamorous look.

"Absolutely stuns in the jeweled gown," said one online user about the songwriter's look. Another added, "Sabrina always gives old Hollywood glam."

Miley Cyrus

The former child star stepped out in a sleek, asymmetrical black dress with a structured drape and a thigh-high slit. The minimalist design and sharp silhouette gave her a bold, sophisticated edge.

"GORGEOUS!!" exclaimed one person. Another added, "She always knows how to steal the spotlight."

Lady Gaga

The legendary singer arrived with her fiancé, Michael Polansky, in a sophisticated, slate-gray gown with a draped, asymmetrical design and a subtle sheen. Her long, straight hair and black gloves added a touch of drama to the polished ensemble.

"Stunning," said one social media user about the music superstar. Another stated, "BABY," while someone else penned, "Super."

Emma Stone

The two-time Academy Award winner turned heads in a bold, popcorn-themed red gown with a halter neckline and built-in bucket detail spilling kernels down the skirt. The playful design brought a touch of humor to the glamorous night.

"Only Emma Stone could make popcorn in her dress look that glamorous," wrote one person about the actress and film producer's look. Another said, "She’s so real for that."

Emma Stone's whimsical popcorn-inspired gown, along with Cyrus's chic black dress, Gaga's elegant slate-gray look, and Carpenter's sparkling, old-Hollywood-inspired ensemble, showcased the night's blend of creativity and style. However, these stars weren't the only ones who impressed — many other celebrities delivered standout looks for the prestigious event.

Dakota Johnson

Jane Curtin

Kim Kardashian

Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson

Meryl Streep

Alexander Edwards & Cher

Whoopi Goldberg

Maya Rudolph

Drew Barrymore

Chris Fischer & Amy Schumer

Tina Fey

Bonnie Raitt

Anya Taylor-Joy

Laraine Newman

Amy Poehler

Molly Shannon

The SNL 50th anniversary special was as much a celebration of style as it was of comedy, with celebrities turning heads in bold, elegant, and creative looks. From timeless glamour to playful statements, the night proved that fashion can be just as entertaining as the show itself.