Saturday Night Live(SNL) has seen its fair share of drama, both on and off the stage. But apparently, the drama behind the scenes can sometimes rival the comedy on screen. Case in point? The time Elon Musk, of Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter/X fame, hosted the iconic sketch show in 2021. Spoiler alert: not everyone found his hosting stint electrifying.’
The Bowen Yang Bombshell(SNL)
Back in August, Bowen Yang spilled the tea during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live. When asked about the worst behavior he’d ever witnessed from an SNL host, Yang dished out a cryptic,but juicy, response. He described a male host who managed to make multiple cast members cry at a table read because he didn’t like their ideas.
Fans quickly put on their detective hats and speculated about the identity of the mysterious cry-inducing host. And let’s be real, when it comes to being “polarizing,” Elon Musk is always a prime suspect.
Enter Chloe Fineman Stage Left
For a while, the mystery lingered. But then, Chloe Fineman decided to weigh in, and let’s just say she didn’t hold back. Fineman had been tight lipped about her Musk experience until the billionaire decided to throw shade at SNL on Twitter/X.
Musk tweeted that SNL has been dying slowly for years, apparently unimpressed by the post-election episode, which featured Dana Carvey doing an impression of Musk himself. (Yes, the same Musk who once dressed as Wario for an SNL sketch oh, the irony.)
The Tears Heard ‘Round Studio 8H
In a since-deleted video shared via People magazine, Chloe didn’t mince words. She recounted how Musk’s reaction to her hard work left her in tears.
“You made me, Chloe Fineman, burst into tears because I stayed up all night writing this sketch,” she revealed, referring to Musk’s hosting stint. It seems the billionaire-turned-comedy-critic didn’t appreciate her efforts, and his feedback was less “constructive” and more..
Why Was Elon So ‘Butt-Hurt’?
Chloe also pointed out Musk’s apparent sensitivity about being mocked on the show. I saw him being butt-hurt about SNL and his impression, she said, referencing Dana Carvey’s take on him.
Bowen Yang’s Silent Applause
Meanwhile, Bowen Yang was probably somewhere nodding in agreement. Yang’s original comment about the tear-inducing host fits Musk like a glove or perhaps a poorly fitted Wario costume.
A Divided Audience
To be fair, Musk’s SNL hosting gig was polarizing from the get-go. Some viewers were excited to see the billionaire try his hand at comedy, while others were… less enthused. His performance garnered mixed reviews, with some sketches landing better than others (remember the cryptocurrency jokes? Yeah, we’re trying to forget, too)
The Takeaway? Comedy’s No Easy Ride
If there’s one lesson here, it’s that comedy isn’t for the faint of heart or the easily offended. Hosting SNL might seem like a fun gig, but as Musk’s experience shows, it’s a high-pressure environment where tensions can run as high as Tesla stock on a good day.
As for Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang, and the rest of the cast? They’re pros. They’ve weathered the storm (and the table reads) and come out stronger and funnier on the other side.
Final Thoughts: Not Everyone’s Built for Studio 8H
Elon Musk may excel at building rockets and electric cars, but his SNL stint proved that comedy might not be his strongest suit. And that’s okay! Not everyone can pull off sketch comedy or survive a table read without a meltdown.
As for the cast, they’ve likely moved on. After all, if you can handle the chaos of SNL, you can handle just about anything even a billionaire host with a bruised ego.
So, here’s to the laughs, the tears, and the behind-the-scenes drama that keeps SNL fans coming back for more. Who needs scripted comedy when the real-life stories are this entertaining?