Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special has some of the show’s most popular alums on its guest list this weekend—except one, leaving fans disappointed.
On Sunday, a three-hour special to celebrate the sketch comedy series’ 50th anniversary will be aired, with guests including Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, and more set to take the stage.
But one star is notably missing from its lineup: Bill Hader.
Hader, who was on the show for eight seasons, left in 2013. The comedian won the hearts of many SNL fans after starring in some of its most famous sketches, including playing Stefon, whom fans just named their all-time favorite character.
Hader has received four Emmy nominations for his work on Saturday Night Live—two while he was a full-time cast member and two more following his departure from the show, which he has hosted twice and made multiple cameos. But in 2019, Hader admitted that he did not watch his work on the series, and felt uncomfortable until five seasons in.
“I was so consumed with work and anxiety,” he told Variety at the time. He said that he suffered panic attacks—both onstage and off.
Puck’s Matthew Belloni was the first to report that Hader had offered a “polite decline” to appear on the anniversary special.
Many were disappointed at the news, as the special is set to bring in some of the biggest stars in Hollywood—with even past hosts Donald Trump and Elon Musk reportedly getting an invite, according to Belloni.
“Excuse me,” wrote one X user. “And what do you mean Bill Hader won’t be there?”
“As a therapist who knows how much anxiety that show caused him, I’m glad he’s taking care of himself,” another posted.
After speculation began running wild about his absence, Hader’s publicist, Matt Labov, confirmed to UNILAD that it was simply due to a “longstanding schedule conflict.”
