Another cast member of Saturday Night Live has announced their departure from the popular late-night sketch show. This marks the fifth cast member to leave before the upcoming season launch next month.
Ego Nwodim, aged 37, disclosed that she will not be returning to the NBC show after being part of the cast since 2018. In a statement, the comedian explained that the decision to leave was her own, expressing gratitude to Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, for the opportunity.
In an Instagram post earlier today, Ego shared the news with fans, stating, “The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight. But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL.” She went on to thank Lorne, her castmates, the writers, and the crew for their support and friendship throughout her time on the show.
Fans reacted with well wishes, expressing both sadness over her departure and excitement for her future endeavors. Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow have also recently announced their exits from the show, adding to the cast shake-up ahead of the new season.
Heidi Gardner, a longstanding member of SNL since 2017, is reportedly leaving the show as well. Additionally, the Please Don’t Destroy segment, featuring John Higgins, Martin Herlihy, and Ben Marshall, will not be returning. John is leaving to pursue acting opportunities, while Martin transitions to a writer role and Ben joins the main cast for the upcoming season.
The show has introduced four new cast members for the upcoming season, including Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. The new season of SNL is set to premiere on October 4 in the US.