Jennifer Aniston Reveals Bizarre Reason For Turning Down 'SNL' Before 'Friends' Fame

Jennifer Aniston is once again recounting the tale of her "hot sh-t" days when she thought she was too good for "SNL." 

Over the years, the Hollywood veteran has called herself out for making the wildest decisions in her youth, including self-righteously turning down a hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live."

The incident surprisingly happened before Jennifer Aniston gained international recognition for starring as Rachel Green on the hit sitcom, "Friends."

Aniston reflected on her infamous decision to refuse a hosting gig on "SNL" during an upcoming episode of Dax Shepard's "Armchair Expert" podcast. Because the incident occurred more than two decades ago, she admitted that her memory of the incident wasn't entirely clear.

Nonetheless, Aniston could recall essential details, such as having a meeting with Lorne Michaels, the creator and producer of "SNL," in New York City. She noted that she bumped into actor David Spade and her longtime pal, Adam Sandler, outside the meeting room.

Regarding why she turned down Michaels' offer to host the sketch comedy show, Aniston blamed her biased opinions. "I don't know why I had this self-righteous attitude of, 'I don't know if women are treated the way they should be treated on this show.' It's a very male-dominated [show]," she explained, per US Weekly.

Aniston explained that she thought she was "such hot sh-t" in her youth, plus the preconceived notions she had about "SNL" made her believe it wasn't the right show for her. She admitted that her reasons for turning down the show were bizarre, as she had not become a household name for starring on "Friends."

The TV personality shared the same tale in 2019, labeling herself "such a young twit" for shutting down Michaels' offer. She recalled telling the show's creator that women needed better treatment on the program.

She stressed that she didn't lecture Michaels, but implied she wouldn't mind hosting "SNL" if it weren't a boys' club.

Aniston doubled down on her "young and dumb" behavior in a 2021 interview, claiming she told Michaels something along the lines of "'I would prefer if it were like the days of Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin.'"Although she initially turned down the offer, Aniston eventually hosted "SNL" in 1999 and 2004.

Aniston's decision to turn down the "SNL" offer, driven by a preconceived notion of poor women's representation on the show, matched the confidence and strength fans know and love. She has always been bold and determined since her youth, traits that helped her persevere on the journey to fame.

According to E! News, Aniston once confessed that she was bullied throughout middle school. She noted that she had been "a little on the chubby side" as a child; however, she wasn't sure if her weight made her a target for bullies.

Aniston also struggled with a lack of confidence in her studies until a dyslexia diagnosis in her early 20s revealed it wasn't her fault. As a child, the actress earned her allowance by cleaning toilets and later worked as a waitress while pursuing her acting career.

Despite facing numerous hardships to become the star she is today, Aniston still fears unknown territories. The Blast reported that she doubled down on her desire to perform on Broadway, a goal she had claimed was part of her bucket list.

During an interview, Aniston noted that she had mixed feelings about making her theatre debut on the big stage. "I haven't done theatre yet because it terrifies me, but it's the one thing I haven't tried besides making an album," she explained.

Although she declared she would never make an album, Aniston hoped to join Broadway. "I grew up in New York and loved going to the theatre, so I think it'd be fun," she added. When she first revealed her desire to make her stage debut, Aniston noted that the right script and time hadn't come.

A Broadway debut isn't the only thing that terrifies Aniston, as she previously addressed her annual absence from the prestigious Met Gala. The Blast covered the story, reporting that she blamed her nerves for her non-appearance at the annual event, despite having received an invitation.

Aniston confessed that she felt overwhelmed by the biggest night in fashion, describing herself as the "'jeans and flip-flops and tank top' kind of girl." Surprisingly, the Met Gala wasn't the only event that had Aniston feeling nervous.

Although she effortlessly delivered her lines in front of the camera, Aniston confessed that deep down she got "anxious" about public speaking. She claimed her anxiety stemmed from media scrutiny, lamenting how easy it was for journalists to twist her words and make her look bad.