Adam Sandler has clarified the meaning behind a controversial lyric from his Saturday Night Live 50th-anniversary performance, saying it was not directed at one individual but reflected a wider issue.
During the “SNL50” special, Sandler performed 50 Years, a comedic song reflecting on the show’s history. One lyric read: “50 years of finding out your favourite musician is antisemitic.”
The line prompted speculation about its target, particularly after Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, appeared to take it personally.
In an interview with Vulture, Sandler was asked if the lyric was aimed at anyone specific. He replied: “Well, you know, whoever wants to grab that one, it’s up to them. I can’t say a specific, because, sadly, there’s been a few.”
Following the broadcast in February, Ye posted a since-deleted message on X that read: “Adam Sandler, thank you for the love.”
This came after a series of inflammatory posts in which he praised Hitler and used offensive rhetoric, leading many to link the lyric to him.
Sandler co-wrote the song with SNL writer Dan Bulla, who also accompanied him on keyboard during the performance. The piece earned them an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.
Reflecting on the process of writing the song, Sandler explained that not all ideas made it into the final version: “There’s people you want to thank and people you want to mention in the song, but maybe they didn’t fit the rhyme.”
Bulla added that the goal was to maintain balance: “We were definitely trying to be conscious of people throughout the show who were honoured in different ways.”
The SNL50 retrospective aired on February 16, with the show’s 50th season concluding on May 17.