Lorne Michaels Reflects on Sinéad O’Connor's 1992 SNL Protest in New Documentary

2025-01-26

Lorne Michaels, the longtime creator and executive producer of Saturday Night Live (SNL), has recently made headlines for his evolving perspective on Sinéad O’Connor’s infamous 1992 protest on the show. In a new documentary titled Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, Michaels reflects on O’Connor’s decision to tear up a photo of Pope John Paul II during her performance, an act that shocked audiences and led to her being banned from the show during her lifetime.

Michaels, who initially criticized O’Connor’s actions as “inappropriate” and “dishonest” in a 1993 interview, now admits to admiring her bravery and sincerity. “There was a part of me that just admired the bravery of what she’d done, and also the absolute sincerity of it,” Michaels said in the documentary. O’Connor, who passed away in 2023, had used her performance to protest the Catholic Church’s handling of sexual abuse scandals, particularly in Ireland, where she had personally experienced abuse.

The incident, which occurred during a live broadcast, left the audience in stunned silence and made it difficult for the show to transition back to comedy sketches. Michaels recalled the chaos behind the scenes, with sirens blaring in the control room. Despite the backlash, O’Connor stood by her actions, stating that tearing up the photo was a necessary act of protest, not a career-derailing mistake.

The documentary, which premiered on January 27, 2025, on NBC, also explores the broader musical history of SNL, highlighting key moments and performances that have defined the show over its 50-year run. Michaels’ shift in perspective on O’Connor’s protest underscores the enduring impact of her bold statement and the complexities of balancing comedy with social commentary on a live television platform.

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