Damon Wayans looks back at his departure from “Saturday Night Live” without any bitterness. In fact, he admits he wanted to be fired.
In Peacock’s docuseries “SNL 50,” Wayans shared what led to his exit from the show. He felt frustrated during Season 11 when many of his sketches were cut before they aired. This buildup of tensions reached a peak when another one of his sketches was dropped.
Reflecting on that moment, Wayans said, “I snapped.” His frustration showed in a sketch called “Mr. Monopoly,” where he decided to change his performance unexpectedly. This surprised not just his fellow actors but everyone involved.
In his own words, “I just did not care.” Wayans admitted he acted out intentionally because he wanted to be let go by the show’s creator, Lorne Michaels.
His plan worked. Following the show, Wayans was quickly fired. Michaels later explained that the decision was tough but necessary.
James Andrew Miller, the author of “Live From New York,” commented on the situation, stating that Wayans had broken an important rule: no surprises during live performances.
Despite this setback, Wayans quickly found success after “SNL.” He starred in popular shows like “In Living Color” and “My Wife and Kids,” each running for five seasons. He also appeared in memorable films from the ’90s, such as “Major Payne” and “Mo’ Money.”
Years later, all seemed well between Wayans and “SNL.” He returned to the show for a stand-up set during the closing episode of Season 11, which aired from 1985 to 1986.
Reflecting on their relationship, Wayans praised Lorne Michaels, saying, “Lorne is a very forgiving man. And I think he just wanted to let me know he believed in me.”
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