Daniel Radcliffe says Lana Del Rey got 'last laugh' after 'SNL' fiasco
- - Daniel Radcliffe says Lana Del Rey got 'last laugh' after 'SNL' fiasco
Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY February 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
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NEW YORK – Fourteen years ago, Daniel Radcliffe cast a spell over “Saturday Night Live.”
The “Harry Potter” star hosted an episode of NBC’s long-running sketch series in January 2012, featuring musical guest Lana Del Rey, who was weeks away from releasing her breakthrough album “Born to Die.”
It was Del Rey’s first major TV performance, and the backlash was swift and ruthless, with comments sections slamming her as “lethargic” and “off-key.” Then-NBC anchor Brian Williams even called it “one of the worst outings in ‘SNL’ history.” Looking back now, Radcliffe says the venomous reactions were totally uncalled for.
“Poor Lana,” Radcliffe told USA TODAY in a recent interview. “I mean, she's done fine since then. I had a really nice time meeting her at that show, so I always felt really bad about what dicks people were about it. But as I said, she's had the last laugh.”
Del Rey waited nearly nine years to sing again on TV, with a “Tonight Show” performance in December 2020. But her career has continued to flourish, with critical acclaim, a fiercely devoted global fandom, 11 Grammy nominations and a soon-to-be-released single.
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Radcliffe is currently promoting his NBC comedy “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins,” co-starring a slew of “SNL” alums including Tracy Morgan, Heidi Gardner and Bobby Moynihan.
“I remember really enjoying working with Bobby on that ‘SNL’ (episode),” Radcliffe says. “The moment that sticks in my mind the most is just (standing) backstage, behind the door, when the band starts up. The music starts and then I just black out. I can’t remember and then it just happens.”
He especially loved Donna Richards, the show’s legendary wardrobe department supervisor: “You just put yourself in her hands and she gets you where you need to be,” Radcliffe recalls. “She’s awesome.”
Tracy Morgan, left, and Daniel Radcliffe in a scene from NBC's new sports sitcom "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins."
And whenever Morgan hosts “SNL” for a third time, the British actor would be game to join him.
“This time, I want to co-host it with D,” Morgan declares excitedly. “That’d be great – the world will go crazy! Ready or not, here we come!”
“Dude, I’d love it,” Radcliffe says. “I’ll just pop in during the monologue.”
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Morgan has deep roots in the “SNL” family: He was a cast member for seven seasons from 1996 to 2003, and later starred in NBC’s “30 Rock” alongside “SNL” vet Tina Fey, who also created the showbiz sitcom.
Fey, who is a producer on “Reggie Dinkins,” has been widely tipped as a successor for the 81-year-old Lorne Michaels, who has overseen “SNL” for the last five decades. The 10-time Emmy winner has mostly brushed off speculation that she'll potentially replace Michaels, and Morgan similarly stays mum.
"Saturday Night Live" favorites Tina Fey, left, and Tracy Morgan pose at the 2006 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.
“You’ve got to ask Tina that,” Morgan says. “I don’t know. I love Lorne, I love Tina – it doesn’t matter who’s there at the helm. She knows how the show works. She learned from the master. She’s a young Jedi. She's Luke; Lorne is Darth Vader. ‘Luke, I'm your father! Join the Dark Side!’ Imagine that.”
“Shouldn’t he be Obi-Wan?” Radcliffe asks.
“Yeah, Obi!” Morgan says. “Black people say, ‘Obi-Waaan. Obi-Waaan.’ "
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daniel Radcliffe defends Lana Del Rey bombing 'SNL' performance
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
