Lorne Michaels reveals Taylor Swift tried to stop SNL’s 2015 girl squad spoof—and he shut her down instantly

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Feb 15, 2025, 17:54 IST

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In 2015, SNL made sketches mocking Taylor Swift's girl squad, which she did not appreciate. Despite her direct request to Lorne Michaels to scrap the sketch, it aired as planned. Swift later sent flowers, highlighting the playful feud but maintained her presence on the show.

Lorne Michaels reveals Taylor Swift tried to stop SNL’s 2015 girl squad spoof—and he shut her down instantly

(Image via Getty Images)

Lorne Michaels is spilling about Taylor Swift’s reaction to Saturday Night Live mocking her 2015 girl squad era. Swift wasn’t laughing. She tried to kill the sketch. Michaels? Completely unfazed.In 2015, Taylor Swift dropped her Bad Blood remix with Kendrick Lamar—and the internet melted down. The video was a pop-culture moment: Selena Gomez, Zendaya, Jessica Alba, Gigi Hadid, Cindy Crawford, Hayley Williams, and Lena Dunham—all in one clip. People didn’t just watch it. They obsessed over it. Swift’s squad became the definition of #goals.
Saturday Night Live couldn’t resist. Season 41 saw two sketches clowning Swift’s clique. The first, The Squad, turned Swift’s squad into an end-times cult, with a narrator deadpanning: “In 2015, Taylor Swift created her SQUAD. By the end of her tour, the entire world has joined.”
Then came Tina & Amy’s Dope Squad, with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler recreating Bad Blood—only more chaotic. Their ‘squad’ included Amy Schumer, Aidy Bryant, and Gayle King, turning the whole ‘cool girl clique’ vibe into a joke.
The audience was laughing. But Taylor Swift? Not so much.

Lorne Michaels says Taylor Swift called him directly, demanded the sketch be cut—and his icy response was legendary

Lorne Michaels wasn’t guessing how Taylor Swift felt—she told him straight up. In his Vulture interview, Michaels said Swift called him personally, asking him to kill the sketch before it aired. She refused to make a cameo and wanted the entire thing scrapped.
Michaels’ reply? Cold. Simple. Brutal.
“Taylor, I do not negotiate with terrorists.”
Then, he hung up.
The sketch aired exactly as planned. But Swift knows how to play the game. After the episode, Michaels says she sent flowers with a note that read:
“I hope there’s no bad blood.”
Petty. Iconic. Everything.

Taylor Swift and Lorne Michaels kept it cute—because at the end of the day, SNL loves roasting its favorites

Despite the tension, Taylor Swift stayed a part of SNL’s history. She’s performed on the show multiple times—first as a musical guest in 2009, then as a host, and again in surprise cameos, most recently introducing Ice Spice in 2023.
Lorne Michaels, meanwhile, stayed Lorne. Unbothered. Unapologetic. And completely in control of his show’s legacy.
So, did Swift hate the sketch? Absolutely. Did she win the battle? Nope. But she won the war—because here we are, still talking about it.
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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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