When Michael Jordan was "threatened" with a lawsuit by Ellen Cleghorne: “Don’t make me take away everything you earn!”
Back in 1991, Michael Jordan was emerging as one of pro sport's biggest stars. He had just won his first championship with the Chicago Bulls, and was getting ready to make his debut on the big screen in "Space Jam."
With this growing fame came more obligations, with one of those being getting the chance to host "Saturday Night Live."
Among the skits put together was one involving Jordan and actress Ellen Cleghorne. During the scene, she was a huge fan trying to score some time with the Chicago Bulls star.
At the start, Cleghorne is very interested in Michael Jordan. However, her mood quickly begins to change as he continues to attempt to get away. Her emotions reach a boiling point when MJ tells her that he can't get her on the LA Lakers dance team.
After Jordan finally gets away, Cleghorne tries to create a fake scene by saying that Jordan pushed her. It ends with her saying that she's going to take everything from him in a lawsuit.
"Don't push me! I could sue you! Don't make me take away everything you earn!" Cleghorne said in the skit.
Michael Jordan left good impression with cast of SNL
Being on the cast of "Saturday Night Live" has to be tough at times considering all the different people coming through the door each week. However, that wasn't the case with Michael Jordan. The NBA legend left a great impression and was adored by the cast at the time.
During a 2017 interview, Chris Rock talked about the time he got to spend with the Chicago Bulls star in 1991. He said the attention got so bad at one point that a guard needed to stay outside Jordan's dressing room at all times.
"He was the biggest star that had ever done the show. … He was at the height of his powers. It was like hanging around Iron Man or something," cast member Chris Rock said to Complex's Sneaker Shopping in 2017.
"The cast is used to famous people — we had famous people on every week, and nobody would ask for autographs or anything. But Jordan, yo … it got to the point, they had to put a guard, a policeman, outside Michael Jordan’s dressing room for the cast. Just for us."
Seeing how the cast was with MJ might have paved the way for his skit with Ellen Cleghorne. Even at that early stage of his fame, Jordan managed to draw in fans instantly.