Home / Arts and Entertainment / Ex-SNL Intern Alleges Toxic Culture, Prompting Backlash from Cast Member
Ex-SNL Intern Alleges Toxic Culture, Prompting Backlash from Cast Member
13 Nov
Summary
- Former SNL intern claims Lorne Michaels creates stressful atmosphere
- Cast member Michael Che responds to intern's claims months later
- High turnover and stress among SNL cast members acknowledged
In November 2025, a former Saturday Night Live intern named Megan McDermott went public with claims about the alleged toxic culture behind the scenes of the long-running sketch comedy show. McDermott, who interned at SNL during her senior year of college and has a degree in comedy writing, posted a video on Instagram addressing the significant cast turnover seen over the summer, including the departures of longtime favorites Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim.
According to McDermott, the stressful atmosphere created by SNL creator Lorne Michaels negatively affects the cast members due to "processes... that have been in place since the '70s." Her claims, while unconfirmed, echo the sentiments of past and present SNL cast members who have spoken about the intense toll the job can take.
However, current SNL writer and Weekend Update co-host Michael Che did not take kindly to McDermott's allegations. Over two months after her initial video, Che responded in the comments, sarcastically dismissing her claims as not sounding "bitter at all." This led to a minor back-and-forth between the two, with the comments section divided on the validity of McDermott's statements.
Despite the controversy, the show continues to forge ahead, with new episodes of Saturday Night Live airing on Saturdays at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock. As the 2025 TV schedule winds down and the 2026 season approaches, the behind-the-scenes dynamics at SNL remain a topic of discussion among fans and industry insiders alike.
