Why Roddy Ricch Has Dropped Out of 'SNL' and Who Is Replacing Him

Once again Saturday Night Live is being forced to make some last-minute changes to put on a show this weekend, after the musical guest dropped out.

Roddy Ricch revealed on Instagram that he's been forced to drop out of Saturday's show due to COVID exposure. Luckily another act, albeit very different in tone, has been able to step up and fill in as a replacement.

Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) is still hosting on January 15 in what is set to be the first show back since the Christmas edition, which saw Paul Rudd's episode drastically toned down because of a COVID outbreak.

Who is replacing Roddy Ricch on SNL?

Indie pop act Bleachers will fill in for Roddy Ricch this weekend as musical guests on Saturday Night Live.

Bleachers is the stage name of musician Jack Antonoff, who has also played in bands like Fun. and Steel Train. He's also a multi-Grammy Award-winning, world-renowned songwriter and producer for other artists. Antonoff has worked with the likes of Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Ray and Carly Rae Jepsen, to name just a few.

Bleachers' latest album, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night was released in July 2021 and Antonoff made reference to the album title when he announced on Twitter that he'd be performing on SNL.

Why is Roddy Ricch dropping out?

Ricch was due to appear on SNL as the musical guest less than a month after his second studio album, Live Life Fast, was released.

Just days before he was due to perform, Ricch announced on his Instagram Stories that he has to drop out of Saturday's show, and gave an explanation as to why.

On Wednesday night he wrote, "Due to recent COVID exposure on my team and to keep everyone safe I won't be able to perform on SNL this weekend." He continued, "I'm working with the SNL team to lock in a new date though! LOVE [praying hands emoji] STAY SAFE"

Season 47 of SNL has featured a number of COVID interruptions. Ed Sheeran cut it fine when he performed as musical guest during Episode 5 when he announced he was self-isolating after testing positive for COVID just days before the live show.

Episode 9 of Season 47, the Christmas episode, was also heavily affected after almost all of the cast was sent home because of a COVID outbreak. Just the host Paul Rudd, guests Tom Hanks and Tina Fey, and cast members Kenan Thompson and Michael Che appeared live in the studio.

Past this weekend's coming show of Saturday Night Live, no other hosts or musical guests have been confirmed, so there should be plenty of opportunities for Ricch to take to the stage in Studio 8H again.

This weekend's show, Season 47 Episode 10, will feature Ariana DeBose as the host and Bleachers as the musical guest. Saturday Night Live airs at 11:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. PT on NBC.