When Abby Elliott told Jimmy Fallon a previously unheard story about a joint making the rounds onstage at SNL‘s 50th anniversary special, she kept coy about “who partook.”
What she didn’t realize? Fallon’s own bandleader had inadvertantly captured the moment and shared it—on Instagram.
In behind-the-scenes cellphone video shot by Questlove at the end of the anniversary broadcast, The Roots’ bandleader offered a POV walk through the star-packed onstage crowd. In the process, he happened to catch a glimpse of what Elliott jokingly called her “dream blunt rotation.”
In the clip, Questlove descends from the back of the show’s homebase set as the show’s credits roll, navigating a sea of cast members and hosts swapping hugs and goodbyes.
That’s when former cast member Horatio Sanz comes into view—holding a joint. “Do you want to smoke a little—” Sanz is heard asking as he passes it to Taran Killam, who appears to take a hit. Meanwhile, a surprised Elliott can be seen leaning her head into the shot from behind.
As we’ve reported, Elliott recounted the moment Wednesday night during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
“For goodnights, I didn’t really realize that we would all go on stage,” Elliott told Fallon. “It was just this sea of every celebrity and every talented, creative person that you love.” That included none other than Paul McCartney, whom Elliott said she introduced herself to onstage. “I was like, ‘I’m Abby. I was a cast member a long, long time ago,’” she recalled.
Then came the twist: “A joint was passed around at that moment,” Elliott revealed. “On the stage.”
A stunned Fallon confirmed: “Really?” Before adding,”I must have been in a different section.”
“We’re all just kind of in a little huddle,” Elliott continued. “Paul, Vanessa Bayer, Emill Wakim… and I’m not gonna say who partook in this, but this was like a dream blunt rotation coming to life.”
Fallon laughed and marveled: “That’s unbelievable.”
Weird, I watched the entire video eyes peeled and I didn’t see what the article was referring to. I probably just missed it, but it sucked watching all of that and no payoff.
I know! 😡👍🏼