- By Srishti Pandey
- Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:32 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
NBC’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) marked a historic milestone with its 50th-anniversary special on February 16, 2025. The three-hour-long event, titled SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration, aired on a Sunday instead of its usual Saturday slot, bringing together an impressive lineup of past cast members, legendary hosts and iconic musical guests.
While the night was filled with nostalgia, tributes and laughter, Kpop fans received an exciting surprise—a brief but impactful appearance by BTS in a montage celebrating the show’s musical history. Though their screen time lasted only two to three seconds, ARMYs quickly took to social media, calling the moment ‘legendary’ and expressing their pride in seeing the group acknowledged in SNL’s long-running legacy.
BTS made history in April 2019 as the first and only Kpop group to perform on SNL. At that time, the group was riding the peak of their global success and their SNL debut was one of the most highly anticipated performances of the year.
BTS was included in the clip of Saturday Night Live 50 Years #SNL50 🇺🇸! They are the 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗞-𝗽𝗼𝗽 𝗔𝗰𝘁 that has performed on SNL, being invited in 2019.
— The BTS Legacy (@thebtslegacy) February 17, 2025
Their performance dominated social media all weekend and sparked a conversation about the historic… pic.twitter.com/6NzjxpKR6B
The seven-member group took the stage as the episode’s musical guest, delivering two unforgettable performances—the live debut of Boy With Luv and a powerful rendition of MIC Drop (Remix). Their presence on SNL was not just another television performance; it was a defining cultural moment that further solidified Kpop’s global influence. The performance went viral instantly, dominating social media trends and making headlines worldwide.
Now, nearly six years later, BTS’ inclusion in the SNL anniversary special has reignited feelings of nostalgia and pride among fans. Many praised the show for recognizing BTS’ historic contribution, despite the group’s absence from Western media due to their ongoing mandatory military enlistments. Even in their temporary hiatus, their influence remains strong, with major platforms continuing to acknowledge their contributions to the music industry.
