Celebrities Permanently Banned From Saturday Night Live

For almost fifty years, ‘Saturday Night Live‘ has become a major part of American culture, showcasing countless talented performers. While most hosts are treated like family and asked to come back, a small number have broken the show’s unspoken rules or gone against its standards for what’s acceptable on television. Lorne Michaels, the show’s longtime producer, is known for keeping things under control, and those who disrupt the show—whether by going off-script or causing problems behind the scenes—often find themselves permanently banned. The following celebrities were never invited back to Studio 8H because of their behavior on-air, unprofessional conduct, or disagreements with others involved in the show.

Steven Seagal

Steven Seagal, the action movie star, hosted the show in 1992 and is remembered by many cast members as the worst host ever. He was reportedly rude to both the writers and performers, and wouldn’t participate in sketches that poked fun at his on-screen persona. Producer Lorne Michaels, who rarely comments on past hosts, publicly stated Seagal would never be asked back, calling him uncooperative and lacking a sense of humor. Seagal’s difficulty working with others even became the subject of a joke told by Nicolas Cage in a future episode.

Martin Lawrence

In 1994, Martin Lawrence hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ to help promote his TV show, but his opening joke led to him being banned from the show immediately. He went off-script and made a very explicit and shocking comment about feminine hygiene, which upset both the network and the audience. The joke was cut from all future broadcasts and copies of the episode. Despite remaining a well-known actor, Lawrence was never invited back to host ‘Saturday Night Live’ again.

Sinéad O’Connor

Okay, so let me tell you about a truly shocking moment I remember from TV back in ’92. Sinéad O’Connor was performing, doing an a cappella version of Bob Marley’s ‘War’, when she did something completely unexpected. She held up a picture of Pope John Paul II and just… ripped it to shreds, staring right into the camera as she did it. Then she yelled about fighting the real enemy, and the studio just went silent – you could feel the shockwave. Apparently, it wasn’t planned at all, and it led to her being banned from the show and caused a huge amount of controversy that followed her for years. It was a bold move, to say the least, and definitely one of the most talked-about moments in music history.

Adrien Brody

In 2003, actor Adrien Brody, known for winning an Oscar, hosted Saturday Night Live and made a significant mistake during an introduction. He unexpectedly appeared on stage with dreadlocks and performed a nearly minute-long introduction to the musical guest, Sean Paul, using a stereotypical and exaggerated Jamaican accent. Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, strongly discourages any unapproved changes to the script, particularly when they involve offensive impressions. The audience’s uncomfortable reaction to the bit was clear, and Brody hasn’t been asked back to host since.

Rage Against the Machine

In 1996, a rock band known for their political views performed on a TV show hosted by Steve Forbes. As a protest against Forbes, the band quickly hung American flags upside down above their equipment just before starting their first song. Crew members immediately tried to remove the flags, and the band was kicked out of the building right after playing ‘Bulls on Parade.’ They weren’t allowed to finish their set or play their second song.

Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa, a famous musician, didn’t work out well as a host on the show in 1978. He wouldn’t learn his lines and obviously read them from the cue cards while making faces at the camera, which ruined the illusion of the show. He also commented on the fact that it was all just a performance during the sketches, which really upset the cast and producers. Because he didn’t take the comedy seriously, he was never asked back.

Milton Berle

Milton Berle, a comedy legend, hosted Saturday Night Live in 1979, but his traditional performance style didn’t mesh well with the show’s newer, edgier writers. There were reports that Berle would try to manufacture applause, overshadow his fellow cast members, and rely on old jokes instead of the lines they’d written for him. He was also accused of being disrespectful to the crew and of inappropriate behavior behind the scenes. As a result, the episode is rarely shown, and Berle was never invited back to host again.

Robert Blake

Robert Blake hosted the show in 1982, but immediately created a difficult atmosphere with his aggressive behavior. He was reportedly rude and demeaning to both the writers and cast, even throwing a script at writer Gary Kroeger during one rehearsal. This created a very unpleasant working environment all week. After the show aired, producers decided he would never be invited back.

Cypress Hill

In 1993, the hip-hop group Cypress Hill caused a stir on Saturday Night Live when they openly violated the show’s rules against drug use. During their performance, DJ Muggs smoked marijuana on stage and the group destroyed their instruments. This clear breach of NBC’s standards and the law resulted in an immediate ban from the show, and served as a cautionary tale for all future performers about the limits of what’s acceptable on live television.

Louise Lasser

Louise Lasser, known for her role in ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,’ was the first person barred from the show after hosting in 1976. She reportedly had a breakdown during the week, isolating herself in her dressing room and declining to participate in sketches with the rest of the cast. Her monologue was disjointed and confusing for both the audience and those producing the show. As a result of her unpredictable behavior and lack of cooperation, she wasn’t invited back to host.

System of a Down

System of a Down’s 2005 performance caused problems with the network’s censors. During their song ‘B.Y.O.B.’, guitarist Daron Malakian unexpectedly swore into the microphone before the delay could catch it. This broke FCC rules and frustrated the show’s producers. As a result, the band was banned from performing on the show again, though they continue to be a popular group.

Which of these banned individuals do you believe deserved the punishment the most? And is there anyone you think should have a second chance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

2026-02-13 19:15