"I Do Not Negotiate With Terrorists": SNL Showrunner Shut Down Taylor Swift's Sketch Cancellation Request
Taylor Swift requested Saturday Night Live to cancel a planned sketch in 2015, but longtime showrunner Lorne Michaels refused. The NBC variety show has been aired live from New York since 1975, and celebrity hosts join an award-winning ensemble cast to perform comedic sketches, satirical news, and digital shorts, alongside popular musical acts. Over five decades, SNL has featured countless celebrity appearances, and Swift has been featured eight times.
According to Vulture, SNL reached out to Swift to appear in a pre-taped sketch spoofing her well-known “squad,” framing it as an apocalyptic cult. Swift declined the cameo and directly asked Michaels to remove the sketch entirely. While listening to her request, Michaels casually ate a piece of popcorn before responding, “I do not negotiate with terrorists.” The sketch aired as planned, and days later, he received flowers from Swift with a note saying "I hope there's no bad blood."
What This Means For Saturday Night Live's Production Process
Taylor Swift Accepted The Skit, Despite Her Push Back
Saturday Night Live has a long history of satirizing public figures, including those who have appeared on the show. SNL has done countless parodies, including politicians, musicians, and actors, often without their involvement or even knowledge. Michaels has led the series for the last five decades, shaping its creative direction and determining what makes it on air. Guest appearances on SNL are carefully planned, but they do not guarantee influence over content.
Due to this, airing the sketch despite Swift’s objections underscores SNL’s approach to comedy and satire. The show operates on a fast-paced production schedule, with sketches frequently rewritten up until airtime. While some segments are cut for time or creative reasons, external pressure from celebrities has historically had little effect on what gets broadcast. Swift’s request to remove a sketch could have been an attempt to change how she was portrayed, but SNL has rarely accommodated such demands. However, in this case, it seems that Swift took it in stride in the end and made several appearances thereafter.
Our Take On Michaels’ Approach to Saturday Night Live
Nobody Is Safe From Satire On SNL
Michaels’ response to Swift’s request reflects the confidence that has defined his tenure at SNL. His willingness to push forward with a sketch, even when met with resistance from one of the world’s biggest musicians, highlights his influence over the show’s creative process. Whether audiences agreed with the sketch or not, the decision reflects Saturday Night Live's longstanding commitment to its comedic vision, regardless of celebrity input.
Source: Vulture
Saturday Night Live
- Release Date
- October 11, 1975
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- Lorne Michaels
- Directors
- Dave Wilson, Don Roy King, Liz Patrick, Andy Warhol, Linda Lee Cadwell, Matthew Meshekoff, Paul Miller, Robert Altman, Robert Smigel
- Writers
- Will Forte, Bill Hader, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Chris Parnell, Asa Taccone, John Lutz, Tom Schiller, Simon Rich, Michael Patrick O'Brien, Nicki Minaj, Herbert Sargent, Matt Piedmont, John Solomon, Chris Kelly, Alan Zweibel, Kent Sublette, Ari Katcher, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schnedier, Scott Jung, Justin Franks, Jerrod Bettis, Rhiannon Bryan
Cast
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