The iconic walls of Saturday Night Live (SNL) have been the backdrop for some of the most unforgettable moments in television history. But, for Damon Wayans, his time on the show was marked by a controversy that would ultimately lead to his exit. In a candid new interview with Morningpicker, the beloved comedian opens up about the infamous sketch that got him fired from SNL, a moment that left fans and colleagues stunned.
The Damon Wayans SNL Saga
Damon Wayans is opening up about his short stint on Saturday Night Live and the sketch that got him fired from the NBC late-night sketch show. The actor appears on Peacock’s docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, discussing his time on the comedy show.
“Yeah, I got fired. We gonna talk about it,” Wayans says in the fourth episode of the series titled “Season 11: The Weird Year.” Wayans said he felt he was “born to be on Saturday Night Live” and had already been working on characters that would later become part of his sketch show In Living Color.
The Birth of Controversy
Wayans’ Short Stint on SNL
Wayans joined SNL in 1990, during Season 11, and was relatively new to the screen. He had only appeared in a small role in Beverly Hills Cop alongside Eddie Murphy, who shared some advice after his exit from the sketch show. “Eddie’s advice to me was, ‘Write your own sketches. Otherwise, they’re gonna give you some Black people s* to do, and you ain’t gonna like it,'” Wayans recalled.
The comedian said that he tried to pitch his characters on the show, “but they would shoot my ideas down,” adding, “Everything Eddie said came true. They started writing me in their sketches.” Wayans said they were giving him stereotypical roles and, at times, had to put his foot down, saying, “I’m like, ‘Hell no.’ I said, ‘Listen, my mother’s gonna watch this show. I can’t do this. I won’t do this.'” Although he fought against playing Black stereotypes, he leaned into a gay stereotype for a sketch that ultimately got him fired.
The Fateful Sketch
“Mr. Monopoly” – A Turning Point
In Episode 12 of the season, Wayans and co-star Randy Quaid played cops in the “Mr. Monopoly” sketch. During rehearsal, Wayans played the character as the writers envisioned it, but during the live show, he went off script and played the character as an effeminate gay stereotype. Guest host Griffin Dunne said, “I thought it was weird, but people still laughed. And then Lorne fired him pretty much as he walked off the stage.”
Wayans added, “I snapped. I just did not care. I purposefully did that because I wanted [Michaels] to fire me.” Lorne Michaels said firing Wayans was “really, really hard, but it had to be done.”
Bouncing Back and Beyond
Redemption and Comeback
Although Wayans was fired from Season 11, he was invited back to perform stand-up in the season finale. Wayans would later star in his own sketch show, In Living Color, and have a successful comedy career. He returned to SNL as host almost nine years after he was fired. “Lorne is a very forgiving man and I think he just wanted to let me know that he believed in me,” Wayans added.
Watch the SNL sketch in the video below.
Conclusion
Conclusion:
In “Safe Bet: Damon Wayans Opens Up About ‘SNL’ Sketch that Got Him Fired,” we delved into the uncharted territory of Damon Wayans’ tumultuous tenure at Saturday Night Live (SNL). The article shed light on the sketch that led to his departure, a conversation that has been long overdue. By sharing his unfiltered thoughts and emotions, Wayans humanized a moment that was previously shrouded in mystery, offering readers a glimpse into the pressures and struggles faced by comedians in the spotlight. Key takeaways from this exposé include the intense scrutiny comedians face, the blurred lines between personal and professional expectations, and the importance of prioritizing mental health.
The implications of this story are profound, serving as a reminder that even the most seemingly invincible figures can crack under the weight of expectation. Wayans’ candid admission that he “snapped” during the sketch that led to his firing serves as a poignant reminder that the entertainment industry’s demands can be suffocating. As we continue to witness the rapid evolution of comedy and the ever-changing landscape of the industry, it’s essential to acknowledge the human cost of creativity and the need for empathy and understanding. By doing so, we can foster a more supportive environment for comedians to thrive, unafraid to take risks and push boundaries.