Last year Saturday Night Live celebrated its 50th anniversary. This summer, it’s celebrating an unfortunate tradition: firing a bunch of people. Noted Paul Simon friend Lorne Michaels is making big changes to his variety show ahead of its season 51 debut on October 4. It’s not a surprise he’s cutting down his performers, though. Despite the big milestone, last year’s cast featured 14 main members and three featured players. Michaels has also done this plenty of times before so it’s no surprise. But some of the people departing the show might surprise fans. So who’s leaving? Here’s a list of everyone out at SNL …so far.
Heidi Gardner
The biggest name leaving the show so far is veteran Heidi Gardner. She joined the show in 2017 for season 43 and got promoted to main cast for season 45. The versatile and talented Gardner has yet to make any statement about her departure, but she was long one of SNL‘s standouts. After eight years, it seemed likely she left on her own, but that might not actually be the case. Gardner’s exit was set to make Ego Nwodim the longest tenured woman in the cast, but….
Ego Nwodim
Not long after Michaels finalized his season 51 cast Ego Nwodim decided the time had come for her to depart. She told Deadline, “The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight. But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL. I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship.” Unlike Gardner’s departure, which might be anything but amicable, Nwodim is leaving on the best of terms. She added, “Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories, and that laughter, with me always.”
According to Variety, Ego spoke further about her exit from SNL during a panel at Fast Company Innovation Festival, saying, “There’s so much I want to do and SNL is always meant to be a stepping stone,” Nwodim said. “There’s so many ideas that I need to have time to create. I’m looking forward to doing that. So directing, more writing in a different capacity.”
Devon Walker
Devon Walker was the first cast member let go ahead of season 51. His departure was definitely not expected after three seasons. Lorne Michaels elevated Walker to the main cast ahead of the show’s 50th. But Walker had since said told Rolling Stone the decision mutual one between him and the show. “We decided together that it was time to go our separate ways,” he said.
He also wrote in an Instagram post announcing his exit that “sometimes it was really cool” working on the show, but that “sometimes it was toxic as hell,” too.
Michael Longfellow
Walker isn’t the only cast member leaving after three seasons. Michael Longfellow is also exiting the show despite earning a promotion to the main cast ahead of season 50. Only unlike Walker, his departure was not a mutual one. On Instagram he wrote, “Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was but, so it goes.” Despite his disappointment, Longfellow expressed gratitude for his time on the iconic show.
Emil Wakim
Another shocking departure is Emil Wakim’s after just one season. The funny standup made a mark during his first and now only year with appearances on Weekend Update. However, he didn’t feel out of place in sketches, either.
Wakim definitely did not see this firing coming. He called it a “gut punch” on Instagram. But in a testament to his comedic chops, he turned a massive disappointment into something funny, which you can see on his IG page.
We’ll update this list if Saturday Night Live has anymore last second exits.
This post originally published on September 2, 2025.