Saturday Night Live star Devon Walker is setting the record straight on his shock axing from the iconic sketch comedy series amid a major cast purge.
Earlier this week, the 34-year-old comedian shared a sharp remark following the announcement that he and three other cherished cast members would be exiting the show before the start of its 51st season.
While the ‘fired’ stars were flooded with fan support, SNL boss Lorne Michaels faced outrage as many placed blame on him for the shocking bloodbath.
But in a new interview with Rolling Stone, Walker admitted that his exit from the show was a mutual decision and not solely because of Lorne.
‘The big question,’ he started when inquired about his departure. ‘Honestly, the simplest way to describe it is that both the show and I realized it was time for us to part ways and move on individually.
‘I think I felt ready to leave the show, and I think the show felt ready to leave me.’
Devon Walker, a star from Saturday Night Live, is clarifying the circumstances around his unexpected removal from the renowned sketch comedy series amidst a significant cast shake-up; pictured in February.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Walker stated that his departure was a mutual choice and not solely due to the decision of SNL head Lorne Michaels; Michaels pictured in 2024.
Walker added: ‘I was just ready to do something else. We both felt like it was time.’
‘This involved a massive time and life commitment,’ he explained. ‘There were many personal experiences I felt I missed out on. I was ready to embrace a new chapter of my life.
‘I think that me and the show are both ready to turn the page,’ he concluded.
Walker was the first SNL member to announce his departure from the long-running sketch comedy show, which will return in October.
The actor joined the show in 2022 as a featured player and was promoted last season ahead of SNL’s 50th anniversary.
‘Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool,’ he wrote on Instagram on Monday.
‘At times, it was extremely challenging. Yet, we made the best of it, creating what felt like a messed-up little family despite all the chaos.’
In the following days, several of his fellow cast members — Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow and Heidi Gardner — also announced their departures.
Walker was the first SNL member to announce his departure ahead of season 51; pictured in March from left to right: Michael Che and Devon Walker
In the following days, several of his fellow cast members — Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow and Heidi Gardner (not pictured) — also announced their departures; pictured December 2024 in New York City
After a fan shared photos of Walker, Wakim and Longfellow in an X post reading: ‘ohhh my boys @internetdevon @Longfellowww i wish you both nothing but the best’, Walker couldn’t resist sharing his thoughts in comedic fashion.
He wrote: ‘yall acting like we died lol we just getting different jobs.’
This comes after the Daily Mail confirmed that Gardner had exited the show after an impressive eight-season run.
The news of the 42-year-old comedian’s exit comes shortly after it was revealed that cast members Longfellow, Wakim and Walker would not be returning for season 51 on NBC.
Gardner joined Saturday Night Live in 2017 during season 43 as a featured player along with now-former SNL stars Luke Null and Chris Redd.
She was then promoted to the main cast two years later. Since then, the Missouri-born actress has written and starred in countless iconic SNL sketches.
Gardner’s shock departure evoked a strong reaction from SNL fans on social media — with some demanding that the show be canceled ahead of season 51.
Another speculated that SNL’s mass exodus could be due to a cut back on production costs as they called for NBC to ‘just cancel SNL already.’
This comes after the Daily Mail confirmed that Gardner had exited the show after an impressive eight-season run. Gardner’s shock departure evoked a strong reaction from SNL fans on social media — with some demanding that the show be canceled ahead of season 51; pictured February in New York City
Another speculated that SNL’s mass exodus could be due to a cut back on production costs as they called for NBC to ‘just cancel SNL already’; pictured in season 49 cast shot
The exits come in the wake of series creator and longtime showrunner Lorne Michaels’ announcement that there would be a ‘significant shake-up’ amid the cast ahead of season 51; pictured February in New York City
Many were left frustrated over the loss of another beloved player, with one fan declaring Gardner ‘the heart and soul of the show.’
Among the tweets expressing sadness and disappointment over Gardner’s exit, several fans saw it as an opportunity for a new, young comic to make a name for themselves on the show.
The exits come in the wake of series creator and longtime showrunner Lorne Michaels’ announcement that there would be a ‘significant shake-up’ amid the cast ahead of season 51.
Just before Walker went public, Michaels teased a big shake-up coming ahead of SNL’s Oct. 4 season premiere.
When asked whether he felt ‘pressure to reinvent this season’, Michaels said: ‘Yeah, for sure.’
‘It’ll be announced in a week or so,’ he added.
The most famous members of the current cast include Colin Jost, Bowen Yang and Kenan Thompson.
SNL Season 51 will premiere on Saturday, October 4, at 11:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, after the summer hiatus since May 17.
