Damon Wayans Reveals How He Got Fired from SNL on Purpose

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Comedian and actor Damon Wayans openly shared the reason behind his intentional dismissal from Saturday Night Live. In a conversation with Variety, Wayans recalled being let go during Season 11 of the live comedy sketch show. In the recently released Peacock docuseries, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, Wayans disclosed that his former SNL co-star Eddie Murphy, with whom he had collaborated on Beverly Hills Cop just two years prior, gave him advice after joining the show’s cast in 1985.

Eddie’s guidance to me was, “Create your own scenes instead. Otherwise, you might end up with stereotypical roles for Black characters, which I don’t think you’d enjoy playing.

In this rewording, I’ve tried to keep the original meaning while making it more accessible and conversational:

Wayans discovered that his part in the sketches became solid as he was frequently included and typically given stereotypical or questionable roles. The comedian felt increasingly irritated when his suggestions were consistently dismissed or deemed unnecessary by the writers and producers, ultimately resulting in the notorious on-air incident that led to his termination. In a sketch titled “Mr. Monopoly,” Wayans decided to deliver all his lines with an entirely distinct voice than the one he employed during rehearsals. You can view the complete SNL sketch below:

In this rephrasing, I’ve attempted to maintain the original meaning while making it more conversational and easy-to-read:

Wayans found himself becoming a regular in sketches, often landing stereotypical or controversial roles. The comedian grew frustrated as his ideas were repeatedly discarded by writers and producers during time constraints, culminating in the well-known on-screen performance that led to his dismissal. In a sketch called “Mr. Monopoly,” Wayans opted to speak all his lines using a voice different from the one he used during rehearsals. You can see the entire SNL sketch below:

In this revised version, I’ve aimed to preserve the original meaning while making it more engaging and straightforward:

Wayans found himself frequently appearing in sketches, often portraying stereotypical or contentious characters. The comedian became agitated as his concepts were consistently dismissed by writers and producers due to time constraints, resulting in a memorable on-stage act that got him fired. In the sketch called “Mr. Monopoly,” Wayans decided to deliver all his lines using an unusual voice compared to what he used during rehearsals. You can watch the full SNL sketch below:

In this rephrased version, I’ve strived to preserve the original meaning while making it more engaging and easy-to-understand:

Wayans found his role in sketches becoming solid as he was frequently cast in stereotypical or offensive roles. The comedian felt increasingly annoyed as his ideas were consistently ignored by writers and producers, leading to a famous on-screen incident that cost him his job. In the sketch titled “Mr. Monopoly,” Wayans chose to speak all his lines using an entirely different voice than he employed during rehearsals. You can watch the complete SNL sketch below:

In this rephrased version, I’ve aimed to preserve the original meaning while making it more conversational and easy-to-read:

Wayans discovered that his inclusion in sketches became a regular occurrence, with him often being cast in stereotypical or questionable roles. The comedian grew frustrated as his ideas were consistently dismissed by writers and producers due to time constraints, resulting in an infamous on-air performance that led to his termination. In the sketch called “Mr. Monopoly,” Wayans opted to deliver all his lines using a voice different from what he used during rehearsals. You can watch the entire SNL sketch below:

In the documentary, Jon Lovitz, a fellow cast member, mentioned that Damon often delivered his lines in a manner reminiscent of a flamboyant gay character. This acting style resembled his performance from the “Couple of Bananas” sketch with Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop. As revealed in the documentary, Wayans intentionally adopted this approach.

I purposely did that because I wanted [Lorne Michaels] to fire me.

On a live sketch show, Wayans violated the fundamental rule by introducing improvisations or unexpected elements. Consequently, Michaels promptly dismissed him. In a subsequent interview, Michaels stated, “After not dismissing anyone for five years, it was extremely difficult. But it was necessary.” In 2015, Wayans discussed his termination from SNL on Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club Morning Show, acknowledging that he acted out of anger and admitting that Michaels was justified in letting him go and firing him.

Damon Wayans and His Career After Exiting ‘SNL’

Andy Breckman, the creator of the “Mr. Monopoly” sketch, initially considered Wayans’ decision as potentially harmful for his career, referring to it as “career suicide.” However, in the documentary series, Breckman remembers Tom Davis justifying the improvisation, stating, “No, no, no. We will all be queuing up within three years to watch a Damon Wayans film. That wasn’t career suicide; that was a strategic move.” Davis proved correct as Wayans went on to become a prominent figure in Hollywood comedy after departing from Saturday Night Live.

Damon Wayans excels at creating comedy sketches and parodies. This comedian has written numerous sketches, directed popular films, and acted in TV shows like “In Living Color” and “My Wife and Kids.” Additionally, he achieved success on the big screen with movies such as “Mo’ Money” and “Major Payne.” For more details about Damon Wayans’ most notable roles, you can read here.

Although Michael had let him go, Wayans was asked to return to SNL that same season for a stand-up comedy performance. Wayans expressed gratitude towards Lorne, stating “Lorne is a forgiving man who believed in me.” In 1995, nine years after being dismissed, Wayans made another appearance as host of the show. It’s heartening to know there’s no lingering ill-feelings between them. Saturday Night Live, now in its 50th year, can be streamed on Peacock via the link provided below:

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2025-01-20 01:03