“Saturday Night Live” wasted no time mocking country star Morgan Wallen for his abrupt exit off-stage as the credits rolled and skipping the afterparty to go to “God’s country.”
During the April 5 show’s cold opening, President Donald Trump – played by castmate James Austin Johnson – was giving a rundown of his “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs when he made the dig at Wallen.
Johnson, standing in a mock White House Rose Garden set, was showing off the larger-than-average poster boards used by the real 47th president to list out the different tariffs being placed on countries and regions across the globe.
“It’s time for the really big piece of cardboard,” Johnson said, calling on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, played by Andrew Dismukes.
Tariffs were also placed on Heard Island and McDonald Islands — the human-less Australian territories that are only inhabited by penguins.
“Ooh McDonald Island, I’d love to visit there,” Johnson said. “Can you imagine that a Big Mac and a Hula skirt, oh la la.”
Johnson called for a piece of art depicting an island of animated menu offerings from the fast-food chain.
“Get me to God’s Country. Remember that, wow,” he said, a direct reference to Wallen’s response after last week’s bizarre exit.
The Grammy-nominated country artist performed the singles “I’m the Problem” and “Just in Case” as the show’s musical guest.
After host Mikey Madison signed off and the credits were scrawling across the screen, Wallen hugged the Oscar winner and walked off-stage towards the cameras and out of the camera’s frame.
In a usual instance, the host and musical guest will hug and shake hands with the cast members before the screen fades to black.
Wallen’s exit mystified viewers and cast members alike.
“Get me to God’s Country,” Wallen wrote on his Instagram Story with a picture of a private jet at an airport and no further context.
Wallen’s post sparked an immediate response from many, quickly turning it into a meme.
The Empire State Building shared a black and white picture of Instagram with the caption referencing Wallen’s phrase.
“SNL” writer John Patten took a photo of a Krispy Kreme truck and shared the same question.
Longtime cast member Kenan Thompson suggested Wallen had to “go potty” in his attempt to explain the exit.
The “Last Night” singer took advantage of the confusion and popularity of the phrase and turned it into clothing.’
In a marketing ploy Wallen promoted his new merchandise line, “Get me to God’s Country.”
Wallen was mocked again later in Saturday’s show during “Weekend Update.”
Co-host Colin Jost compared Wallen’s departure to the stock market after the tariffs were announced.
“Just in the past two days, investors have lost more than $6 trillion,” Jost said. “Money is leaving the stock market faster than Morgan Wallen at good nights.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
