In 2015, Taylor Swift requested that “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) remove a sketch parodying her “Bad Blood” music video, which featured her celebrity friends. Despite her request, SNL creator Lorne Michaels declined, humorously telling Swift, “I do not negotiate with terrorists.” The sketch aired as planned, and Swift later sent Michaels flowers with a note saying, “I hope there’s no bad blood.”
The sketch, titled “The Girl Squad,” featured Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Amy Schumer, Gayle King, and Robert Downey Sr. It humorously depicted Swift’s squad as an apocalyptic cult. Swift declined to make a cameo in the sketch and contacted Michaels directly to ask him to cancel it. Michaels listened but ultimately refused, reportedly telling Swift, “I do not negotiate with terrorists.”
After the first sketch aired, Swift sent flowers and a note to Michaels, hoping there was no “bad blood.” Despite the incident, Swift continued her appearances on “SNL,” serving as the musical guest in 2017, 2019, and 2021, and made a surprise cameo to introduce Ice Spice as the musical guest in 2023.
The “Bad Blood” sketch featured stars Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Amy Schumer, Gayle King, and Robert Downey Sr. The sketch humorously depicted Swift’s squad as an apocalyptic cult.
The incident highlights the tension between celebrities and satirical shows like SNL, where creative freedom often clashes with personal sensitivities. Despite the controversy, the sketch remains a memorable moment in SNL’s history.
