Bill Hader's publicist initially stated that his absence from SNL50 was due to a scheduling issue, but Hader himself later disclosed the real reason for his skip.
Bill Hader, a beloved alumnus of Saturday Night Live (SNL), chose to miss the show's 50th anniversary celebrations, citing his ongoing struggles with anxiety as the primary reason.
During his eight-season tenure on SNL (2005–2013), Hader often felt shaky and tense before performances, a stark contrast to some of his calmer castmates. His anxiety persisted even beyond his time on the show, influencing his decision to stay away from the high-profile event.
In a digital short about anxiety that was part of the special, Hader was supposed to appear alongside Andy Samberg, with Samberg trying to comfort Hader about his anxiety. However, Hader declined the opportunity due to the prospect of participating triggering his anxiety, despite the irony of the sketch's topic. Bowen Yang took Hader's role in the end.
Hader discussed his struggles with anxiety in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2022 and previously on Late Night with Seth Meyers. He even mentioned having panic attacks before shows on SNL and going into a bathroom to cope with them.
The 50th anniversary celebrations were the most star-studded events of 2025 so far, with the likes of Robert De Niro, Kim Kardashian, Will Ferrell, Scarlett Johansson, Keke Palmer, Lady Gaga, Jimmy Fallon, Billy Crystal, Pedro Pascal, David Letterman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Drew Barrymore, Meryl Streep, Seth Meyers, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bad Bunny, Chris Rock, Jon Hamm, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Paul McCartney, and Tom Hanks in attendance.
Despite Hader's absence, he is behind some of the show's most iconic sketches. Fans were disappointed to see him missing from the list of former cast members who made a comeback for the anniversary. Hader's full interview discussing his absence can be found online.
References:
- Bill Hader discusses his anxiety struggles on Late Night with Seth Meyers
- Bill Hader turns down SNL sketch due to anxiety
- Bill Hader's anxiety prevents him from participating in SNL 50th anniversary
- Bill Hader's anxiety influences his decision to miss SNL 50th anniversary
- Bill Hader declines SNL sketch about anxiety due to his own anxiety
- Bill Hader, having previously mentioned battling anxiety during his role on TV shows like Saturday Night Live (SNL), declined a sketch about anxiety due to its potential to trigger his condition.
- Despite his ongoing struggles with anxiety, celebrities like Tim Allen, Sarah Silverman, and Tina Fey participated in various timely TV shows and SNL sketches, showcasing their support for fellow entertainers dealing with similar issues.
- Early in his television career, even before SNL, Hader's anxiety manifested during his performance of various TV shows, leading to panic attacks that he often coped with privately.
