Martin Short Misses SAG Awards Due to COVID After SNL Celebration
Well, folks, it seems the SNL 50th anniversary bash pulled a sneaky little move on Martin Short, leading to his unforgettable absence from the SAG Awards. The comedy legend snagged the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for his standout role in Hulu’s hit “Only Murders in the Building.” However, here’s the twist: he wasn’t on stage to claim his first SAG trophy because—drumroll—he contracted COVID-19 at the very event that was supposed to be all about fun!
Presenter Joey King was a voice of reason when she informed the audience of Short’s absence. “Well, well, well, I don’t see. Oh, there’s the teleprompter! Martin Short could not be here tonight,” she quipped, adding a touch of humor to an unfortunate situation. It turns out Short wasn’t the only one knocked down by the virus; his comedy partner Steve Martin was also MIA, thanks to a scheduling conflict.
According to Martin’s Instagram post, the “SNL 50th COVID curse is real.” It’s not just the comedians who are catching the virus; even Maya Rudolph reportedly fell ill, despite clarifying she didn’t arrive contagious. This outbreak at such a high-profile celebration raises eyebrows about the ongoing risks in large gatherings, even as the pandemic continues to dwindle for many.
But let’s not forget the silver lining! Short, despite his absence, expressed immense gratitude in an official statement, saying, “The honor of being in Only Murders in the Building is the most spectacular compliment anyone could be given.” Meanwhile, his co-star Selena Gomez hilariously joked on stage during the acceptance of the cast’s ensemble award, “We never win! This is so weird! Marty and Steve aren’t here because, you know, they don’t really care.”
As for the SAG Awards, they strived to keep the entertainment flowing live on Netflix. This year, along with Short’s solo win, “Only Murders in the Building” scored another award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Can’t wait for Season 5, right? Let’s just hope the cast can dodge any more COVID curves!
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and Entertainment Weekly, Variety, Instagram (Steve Martin)
