‘SNL’ Returns Sept 30 With Ryan Gosling, Jay-Z

"SNL" cast member Nora Dunn boycotted the Andrew Dice Clay-hosted Season 15 episode in protest of his past jokes about women. Musical guest Sinead O'Connor also canceled her appearance.

Also Read: Sinead O’Connor Slams Rolling Stone for Kim Kardashian Cover: ‘Music Has Officially Died’

Ashlee Simpson had an awkward turn as musical guest in 2004, when she was caught lip syncing on stage. Simpson later explained that she was "sick" and advised not to sing live to protect her voice.

See Video: Jessica Simpson Slurs, Stumbles in Bizarre HSN Appearance That Rivals Mariah Carey

In 1975, the show aired one of its edgiest sketches, featuring a racially charged game of word association between Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor in which the N-word was used.

See Video: Megyn Kelly Confronts Woman Who Declared ‘Open Season on Crackers’

David Spade initiated a decades-long feud with Eddie Murphy with a seemingly innocuous joke about the former cast member being a "falling star." Spade later revealed that Murphy screamed at him over the phone and refused to return to "SNL" for years after.

See Video: Eddie Murphy Breaks Out Bill Cosby Impression During Kennedy Center Ceremony

Elvis Costello got himself banned from "SNL" with a 1977 performance when he stopped a performance of "Less Than Zero" to launch into "Radio, Radio," a song critical of the commercialization of broadcasts.

Also Read: John Leguizamo ‘Won’t Watch’ ‘SNL’ Anymore After Donald Trump Hosts

Jenny Slate's first outing as an "SNL" cast member didn't go as smoothly as she'd probably hoped. The actress accidentally dropped an f-bomb on air in her very first sketch.

See Video: Jennifer Lopez Drops F-Bomb Live on ‘American Idol’

Host Sam Kinison had a few jokes cut from the west coast broadcast of his opening monologue in a 1986 episode when he joked about crack cocaine and the Crucifixion.

Also Read: Donald Trump Shot Down a Few ‘Risqué’ ‘SNL’ Skits to ‘Stay Leading in Iowa’

Sinead O'Connor used her platform as "SNL" musical guest to protest sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. She infamously tore up a picture of the pope during a performance of Bob Marley's "War."

Several performers have been banned from the "SNL" following bad behavior during their turns as host. Among them, Steven Seagal, Martin Lawrence and Adrien Brody.

Also Read: Hispanic Group Offers $5K to Anyone Willing to Disrupt ‘Racist’ Donald Trump on ‘SNL’

"Saturday Night Live" has been repeatedly criticized for a lack of diversity among its cast. Pressure on the show to diversify culminated in the casting of comedian Sasheer Zamata, a black woman, for Season 39.

Also Read: Lorne Michaels Defends ‘SNL’ Diversity: ‘We’ve Been Breaking Those Barriers From the Very Beginning’

"SNL" has been accused of plagiarism several times. A recent sketch about three Tina Turner impersonators, featuring Sarah Silverman, Sasheer Zamata and Cecily Strong, was accused of being taken from Los Angeles comedy group The Groundlings.

Also Read: The Fat Jew Cops to Plagiarism Accusations: ‘It Was Never My Intention for Anyone to Think All of This Was Mine’