Tom Holland Shares His Understandable Reason for Not Hosting 'SNL'

It’s good to talk about what’s bothering you, not just for yourself, but for others as well. There’s safety in numbers, and speaking out about something you are having trouble with, in a large or small setting, can make someone else feel comfortable enough to do the same. Then, they may feel more inclined to ask for help or to deal with things on their own. That said, they also likely won’t feel as alone anymore, knowing that someone else is struggling with what they are.

So, it warms my heart to see a guy like Tom Holland talk openly about dealing with dyslexia and how it has kept him from hosting Saturday Night Live. The Spider-Man star stopped by Good Hang with Amy Poehler for a chat, and he ended up volunteering the information about himself, explaining that he has actually turned down the famed sketch show several times because he’s nervous about reading from cue cards, especially since the ones at SNL change constantly.

Amy attempts to assure him that he’d be fine, first mentioning that plenty of dyslexics have likely hosted the show, and that others have been hopped up on goofballs, so Holland would still be fine. But he doesn’t seem very convinced, which is fair, and pretty endearing. The moment is very vulnerable, especially when he admits that read-throughs can be especially difficult, leading him to learn his lines in advance so as not to feel embarrassed on the first day.

Imagine you are a young actor, or just a person in the world, dealing with dyslexia, feeling alone and embarrassed, and Spider-Man just says out loud that he’s dealing with it as well. Not only is he dealing with it, but he is thriving. That could be enough motivation for someone to keep going, try something new, or just feel a little less uncomfortable in this big ole scary world. You can’t be what you can’t see, and someone getting to see themselves in someone like Holland for this reason could change their life.

Maybe it sounds like I’m being overdramatic, but this stuff is important, especially among young men. Seeing someone in a position of power choose to be vulnerable and talk about an issue they’re facing with grace and understanding could not only help people feel less alone, but it also shows young men that there is strength in talking about life, struggles, and health. Talk is good!