Ego Nwodim's Departure from 'Saturday Night Live' Sparks Reactions
Ego Nwodim has confirmed she will not be returning for Season 51 of NBC's Saturday Night Live. The news of her exit after seven seasons has generated reactions from current and former cast members, as well as other comedians and celebrities.
Reactions from SNL Alumni and Celebrities
Former SNL cast member Cecily Strong expressed her admiration for Nwodim, posting on Instagram, "I just texted you, but I also want to say it loud and proud here: it was an honor and total joy to get to work with you. One of the best to ever do it." Current cast member Chloe Fineman echoed this sentiment, replying, "One of the best to ever do it my friend. GOAT."
Other notable figures chimed in to congratulate Nwodim on her tenure at SNL. Michelle Buteau wrote, "Can’t wait to see what’s next." Yvonne Orji commented, "7 is the number of completion. Job well done." Vanessa Williams simply added, "What???? Boo." Padma Lakshmi lauded Nwodim's comedic talent, saying, "You’ve given so many of us so much laughter and a master class in how it’s done. Take a bow sis!!" Rachel Lindsay and Amber Ruffin also expressed their excitement for Nwodim's future endeavors.
Other Cast Departures and Season 51 Changes
Nwodim's departure follows the exits of other cast members, including Heidi Gardner (after eight seasons), Michael Longfellow (after three seasons), Devon Walker (after three seasons), Emil Wakim (after one season), and John Higgins of the Please Don't Destroy troupe.
Bowen Yang, who is returning for Season 51, spoke about Heidi Gardner’s exit on his "Las Culturistas" podcast, describing her as "one of the greats" and stressing her reliability and kindness. He also praised Walker, Wakim, and Longfellow as "fantastic comedians."
Nwodim's Official Statement and SNL's Future
Ego Nwodim addressed her departure in an Instagram post, 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 expressed gratitude to Lorne Michaels, her castmates, and the crew. Nwodim joined SNL in 2018 and was known for characters such as "Lisa from Temecula."
Lorne Michaels had previously indicated that Season 51 would bring casting changes, as major disruptions were delayed to celebrate the show's 50th season. Five new comedians – Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska – have joined the cast. The remainder of last season’s cast, including Colin Jost and Michael Che, are expected to return.
Saturday Night Live Season 51 premieres on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.