Why Justin Timberlake Missed SNL 50: The Anniversary Special – E! Online

Unfortunately, Justin Timberlake did not bring sexy back to Studio 8H for SNL 50: The Anniversary Special.

The “Cry Me a River” singer—whose iconic Saturday Night Live sketches include digital shorts “D–k in a Box” and “Motherlover” as well as “Omeletteville”—was not among the star-studded attendees at the Feb. 16 event honoring 50 years of the sketch comedy show. 

But, he had a valid reason. “Justin is in the middle of a world tour,” a source exclusively told E! News, “and was unable to attend.” (Also missing from the audience: Dan Aykroyd, Bill Hader, Dana Carvey and more.)

Timberlake—a member of the SNL five-timers club after hosting the show in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2013—first appeared on the NBC series in March 2000 when *NSYNC served as the musical guest.

Since then, the dad to kids Silas, 9, and Phineas, 4, with wife Jessica Biel, has made several memorable appearances on SNL, even performing alongside BFF Jimmy Fallon in sketches like “The Barry Gibbs Talk Show” and “Wrappinville.”