SNL drops Morgan Wallen as this week's musical guest after he was spotted partying maskless

Variety

The rising country music star posted an Instagram video this afternoon from his New York City hotel room announcing that Saturday Night Live called to inform him he won't be performing on Saturday's show “because of COVID protocols.” Wallen was criticized after TikTok posts showed him partying maskless in Tuscaloosa, Alabama last Saturday following the University of Alabama's football victory. "My actions from this past weekend were pretty short-sighted, and have obviously affected my long-term goals and my dreams,” Wallen said, adding: "I respect the show’s decision because I know that I put them in jeopardy, and I take ownership for this. I’d like to apologize to SNL, to my fans, to my team for bringing me these opportunities, and I let them down." Wallen said that SNL boss Lorne Michaels gave him “a lot of encouragement,” and told him that the show would “find another time to make this up." SNL hasn't commented on Wallen's ouster, and no replacement for him has been named. ALSO: A just-released SNL promo still listed Wallen's name.