When Elon Musk sat in the host’s chair for the “Saturday Night Live” show back in May 2021, it was a heady mix of curiosity and excitement and, as it now appears, emotional surprises behind the screen. Recently, “Saturday Night Live” cast member Chloe Fineman spoke about her feelings about working with Musk on set and shared an emotionally fraught moment she had to share with the tech mogul.
In one of his TikTok videos, Fineman claimed that Musk was less than supportive in the pre-prepared sketch she had, and even seemed to belittle her work in a way she felt genuinely hurt by. The revelation has put the dynamics between celebrity hosts and the cast of SNL into sharp light, and how these interactions can affect such profound changes in the performers themselves.
A Peek Behind the SNL Curtain
Hosting “Saturday Night Live” is no small matter, especially for those outside of the entertainment circle. Within its time on air, SNL has hosted several celebrities: actors, musicians, sports players, and even business tycoons. Musk’s case was different, though, since he is neither an actor nor a musician but rather a man known most for his technological ventures. Being the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, among others, he is more renowned for his success in the world of technology rather than in comedy or acting.
Of course, it was exciting to work with such a different professional circle for the SNL cast, but at the same time, it was a challenge. Very often, fans want to know what happens backstage in these high-pressure episodes, where creativity and performances are teased to their limits. Fineman gives a rare glimpse into the emotional topography that sometimes accompanies the interactions in his recent comments.
She explained in her video that she put her heart into writing and preparing a sketch, but got the most blunt and brutal comments from Musk. According to Fineman, Musk seemed to go through her script with an axe, disapproving of and frowning at it instead of appreciating it. Fineman-who prepared all night-found that to hit quite hard.
Celebrity Criticism: Impact on Cast Members
The intensity of the SNL production process is the stuff of legend. Cast members often work around the clock to create new, exciting material for every week’s show. The creative labor is a writing-rehearsing-revision process under fierce time pressure; therefore, getting feedback from the hosts, writers, and co-stars is a basic ingredient of the show. Yet when a host’s feedback is unexpectedly harsh, that can leave cast members deflated.
Another SNL cast member, Bowen Yang, earlier mentioned that during one table read, a male host made some of the cast members cry. Without naming names, Yang pointedly placed the blame on Musk. The video by Fineman could imply that Musk was the host who had such a dramatic reaction. Yang called the experience “terrible, and it puts into context how destructively critical a host can crush the spirit of camaraderie amongst the members.”
For Fineman, this was a personal critique. She described Musk’s response as if he had been “firing me from Tesla,” which she said showed just how much disappointment she felt was emanating from his reaction. Not only was this discouraging with the serious commitment that she gave towards her work, but it further left her open and not valued in her work efforts.
Public Figures in Unfamiliar Roles: A Tough Balancing Act
While Saturday Night Live has a history of high-profile guest hosts, hosts from outside the world of entertainment can pose special challenges. Unlike seasoned performers, who may instinctively be attuned to the give-and-take of live comedy, business figures like Musk are often used to environments in which efficiency and directness, rather than sensitivity, are paramount. This cultural clash will sometimes inevitably lead to misunderstandings or awkwardness between a host and the cast.
When he was guest hosting SNL, Musk himself had to face a very divided fan and public reaction. Being among the richest men and one of the most influential persons in the world, Musk’s decision to appear on a comedy show polarized people right from the start. For some, it was a light-hearted aside in the heavy stream of business-oriented appearances; for others, a distraction from more serious, globally significant issues he influences, like climate change and the future of space travel.
To some cast members, the experience of working with a host like Musk-who came in with both intrigue and intimidation-wasn’t surprising. This speaks volumes to the complicated expectations levied on guest hosts who may not naturally be prepared for, aside from their fame and fortune, the collaborative and often fragile work that SNL asks of them. Any criticism, not considered, could make for a tense, if not demoralizing, atmosphere.
