Bill Hader Details SNL50 Absence, Mental Health Struggles

Bill Hader has clarified that his absence from Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special was due to anxiety, not a scheduling conflict as previously stated by his publicist. On 'Late Night with Seth Meyers,' Hader revealed that anxiety related to his SNL tenure made him unable to participate, even in a digital short about cast members' anxiety, for which Andy Samberg had invited him. Bowen Yang replaced Hader in the anniversary sketch. Hader has previously disclosed the intense mental and physical toll SNL took on him, including migraines, panic attacks, and anxiety-induced vision loss during live shows. Fans and commentators expressed disappointment at his absence, but his openness has been widely supported and continues to highlight performers' mental health challenges. Hader has since found success with projects like 'Barry' and remains an advocate for mental health awareness.