Morgan Wallen turns 'SNL' walkout drama into a moneymaker. Here’s what happened.

Why did Morgan Wallen abruptly walk off the Saturday Night Live stage? He’s not saying, but he’s hoping to make a dime off the speculation.

The 31-year-old country star, a magnet for controversy, was the musical guest on the March 29 show with host Mikey Madison. After the Oscar-winning star of Anora said goodnight and the credits rolled, the “I'm the Problem” singer ducked the pleasantries that typically follow with the cast — and the afterparty. He said goodbye to Madison, stepped off the stage, walked past the camera and was outta there. Shortly after, Wallen posted a photo to his Instagram Stories of his private plane on the tarmac, writing, “Get me to God’s country.”

Social media has been trying to get to the bottom of his abrupt departure ever since. While he hasn’t explained what it was — or wasn’t about — he’s now selling merchandise with the now-viral phrase on his website.

Here’s what we know, from exit stage center to merch launch.

Wallen made his 2nd appearance on SNL

Going into the March 29 episode, Wallen had a little history with the show, having been uninvited as the musical guest in October 2020 after he broke COVID protocols. However, that seemed long behind him because he ultimately performed on the show in December 2020, even joking about the drama in a sketch.

On Saturday, Wallen performed the title track and “Just in Case” off his upcoming fourth album, I’m the Problem — with no drama. During goodbyes, he leaned in and said something off-camera to Madison before exiting through the audience seated in Studio 8H. Madison and the cast did their celebratory thing in the background, hugging, high-fiving and hopping.

Wallen posted the ‘Get me to God’s country’ photo

Social media speculation began immediately about what happened. A photo of Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim supposedly reacting went viral and sleuths tried to read the lips of Madison and the others who remained onstage.

Making it a thing was Wallen posting his Instagram photo of his private plane with the “Get me to God’s country” messaging, as things started to really simmer.

Variety reported that a source close to Wallen said he enjoyed being the musical guest and didn’t mean to offend anyone with his exit or Instagram post. The insider said Wallen just followed the route offstage that he used during rehearsals, and said people shouldn’t look into it, because there was no drama.

His publicist reportedly sent out a press release on March 30 recapping his “roisterous return” to the NBC show, but doesn’t mention his walkout, according to country music stations including South Florida’s New Country 103.1.

SNL players reacted

Thompson confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that he “definitely saw it” all happen in the moment.

“I don't know what goes through people’s minds when they decide to do stuff like that. I don't know if he understood the assignment or not, or if he was really feeling a certain kind of way,” Thompson told the outlet. “We're so used to everybody just turning around and high-fiving us, everybody's saying, 'Good job, good job, good job.' So when there's a departure from that, it's like, hmm, I wonder what that's about?"

Thompson quipped, “I thought maybe he had to go to the potty or something.”

SNL writer Josh Patten shared a picture on his Instagram Stories of a Krispy Kreme truck on a New York City street, writing, “Get me to God's country.”

Page Six reported that an insider said Wallen was asked to participate in a sketch for Saturday’s show but “declined.” SNL enlisted Joe Jonas to do it instead. The insider claimed Wallen “did what he was asked” on the show, but was “not super friendly.”

Morgan mocked the controversy

The singer addressed the controversy in his own way — with a quick-turnaround merch. On his website, he started selling a T-shirt and hats with the “God’s country” line. The items cost $45 each.

Wallen’s fan club shared an image of the new products to Instagram and he reshared it, marking the first time he’s addressed it in any capacity.

We imagine all these mentions of Wallen won’t hurt sales for his album I’m the Problem, which is out May 16.