The ‘SNL’ Cast Member Who Called Tina Fey the C-Word

Matt Solomon January 10, 2025

In 2008, Tina Fey delivered one of her most memorable rants during a Weekend Update segment, where she passionately defended Hillary Clinton against the harsh criticisms often directed at her. “Let me say something about that: She is [a bitch],” Fey snarled. “And so am I. And so is this one [Amy Poehler]. You know what? Bitches get stuff done.” Fey went on to draw a comparison to Catholic school nuns, describing them as “mean old clams” who were tough but effective in teaching their students. She boldly declared, “Bitch is the new black!” affirming that she wasn’t concerned with how people viewed her, particularly as a woman in a leadership role.

At the time, Fey was the head writer at Saturday Night Live (SNL), and her role demanded she get things done efficiently rather than worry about popularity. But her strong, unapologetic persona sometimes rubbed people the wrong way, particularly among her colleagues at SNL. One such instance led to a confrontation years later, which Fey discussed during a 2015 interview with Howard Stern. Stern, known for his probing questions, asked Fey if she had ever confronted anyone who had insulted her in a deeply personal way, specifically asking, “Did you confront a staffer at Saturday Night Live after they called you a c***?”

Fey, who’s known for her wit and humor, confirmed that the incident did indeed happen but admitted she didn’t understand what provoked the outburst. She revealed that, despite the harshness of the insult, the individual who called her the slur was someone she had forgiven and was on good terms with today. Stern pressed further, asking who had the audacity to call Fey such a vile name, to which she responded reluctantly, “It was Colin Quinn.”

The reason behind Quinn’s angry outburst remained unclear to Fey, though she speculated that it had something to do with the pressure he was feeling over a show he was working on at the time. Fey had been trying to help him with the project, which she described as “very random,” but Quinn’s anxiety seemed to have boiled over. She found herself taken aback when Quinn left her an angry voicemail that included the slur. “I was like, ‘What?’” Fey remarked, genuinely puzzled by what she might have done to provoke such a strong reaction. As Stern pointed out, it’s usually clear when someone insults you; often, there’s something you did to trigger it. But Fey was left confused by this particular instance.

Despite the hurtful voicemail, Fey had no lasting resentment toward Quinn. By the time of her Stern interview, she had moved on and even found humor in the situation. “He left evidence!” Fey quipped, referring to the voicemail. When Stern noted that Quinn was not featured in Fey’s new movie at the time, Fey joked that she had asked Quinn to appear on 30 Rock three times, but he had turned her down every single time. “Then I saw him on Girls and I was like, ‘He’s dead to me!’” Fey said with a laugh, clearly still holding onto some playful frustration.

However, time heals all wounds. Fey later revealed that she and Quinn had reconnected at the SNL 40th Anniversary party, where they made amends. “We’re good,” she assured Stern, signaling that the past was behind them. What started as a tense and hurtful moment between two colleagues had eventually evolved into a reconciled friendship, proving that even the most personal conflicts can be resolved with time, understanding, and, in this case, a good sense of humor.