SNL Comic Bill Hader Finally Reveals The Real Reason He Skipped Show's 50th Anniversary Event

Bill HaderSaturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary event had everything — hot dogs and heroin, alien probings, a naked Pete Davidson, oodles of celebrity guests and tons of SNL alum. But it didn’t have Bill Hader.After the iconic sketch show aired its 50th anniversary special in February, many longtime fans were disappointed that Bill, a former and beloved cast member, didn’t make an appearance.When Variety reached out to ask why the comedian had skipped the celebration, a representative for Bill said it was due to “longstanding scheduling conflict”.And if that sounds like an excuse, it’s because it was — at least according to the man himself.On Tuesday’s episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers, the host – who is also an SNL alum – casually revealed the real reason Bill was absent.Bill Hader and Seth Meyers on SNL in 2010.“You were very open and honest, sort of, after you left SNL, about the anxiety you had when you were working there,” Seth began.“And then for SNL 50, people were, obviously, at first, disappointed you weren’t coming, but that was the reason.”Seth, who helped write the special, went on to say that when he found out Bill didn’t want to appear because of his anxiety, he accepted it. But it seems that another SNL alum tried to convince Hader to do it anyway.“Andy [Samburg] called me and was like, ‘Hey, so we’re doing this short about how, you know, everybody had anxiety.’ ... And when he told me about it, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I want to do that,’” Bill recalled to his former co-star.“And he was like, ‘Why?’ and I was like, ‘Because I’m anxious!’”Bill said current SNL cast member Bowen Yang played the part Andy had initially pitched to him, a performance the Skeleton Twins star said was “great”.After Bill confirmed he had skipped the SNL special due to his anxiety, Seth dropped another tidbit about Bill’s life.“I just heard this — anxiety aside, you just had shingles!” Seth said to Bill, who then burst into laughter. “Yeah, from stress,” he confirmed. “And I was like, ‘What causes this?’ and the [doctor] was like, ‘Anxiety! I know because you always talk about how you have anxiety.’” Seth joked that if Bill had appeared on SNL 50, he would have gotten “double shingles”. Bill has indeed been open about the anxiety he experienced while working on SNL from 2005 to 2013 — and from his descriptions of it, skipping SNL 50 was probably the best call for his own mental health.“The live aspect of SNL – I’m just not built for it,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022. “Before shows, I would go into a bathroom that was way down this hall, go into a stall and have a full-blown panic attack, crying, the whole thing. And then I go and get in a giant banana costume.”He continued: “This voice would come on in my head of, like, ‘You fucking asshole, do you know how many people would kill for this? Dude, get your shit together, come on’.”Help and support:Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email [email protected] Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.READ MORE:21 Must-See Moments You Might Have Missed From SNL's 50th Anniversary CelebrationSaturday Night Live Comedian Finally Reacts To Aimee Lou Wood's Comments About 'Mean' SketchHow Scarlett Johnasson Really Feels About Husband Colin Jost's 'Vulgar' SNL Joke About Her

Comments

Breaking news

‘Going To Cost Lives’: Former Surgeon General Shocked By RFK's Latest Move

Huffpost uk

Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers's ex Talia Oatway reveals their son Oakley, three, may need a wheelchair and admits she is often in tears over his Apert Syndrome

about 3 hours ago

The size of a surprising body part can predict how long you will live

Dailymail

Hulk Hogan's widow blasts 'misleading stories' after his daughter Brooke pushes Scientology and cremation conspiracy theories

about 3 hours ago

Kelly Clarkson reveals heartbreaking news on ex-husband Brandon Blackstock as she CANCELS Las Vegas residency

Dailymail

Comments

Similar News

Amanda Knox Sends Message to 'SNL'

Breaking news

‘Going To Cost Lives’: Former Surgeon General Shocked By RFK's Latest Move

The Art Of The D***: Trump Is Trying To Censor The Smithsonian And Everyone Hates It