SNL alum Devon Walker opens up about sudden exit…
“Saturday Night Live” star Devon Walker has opened up about his sudden exit from the show after only three seasons.
The comic, who called the favored sketch comedy “toxic as hell” upon asserting his departure last week, mentioned why the sequence “doesn’t need to be that way” during an interview with Variety printed Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Michael Che and Devon Walker during Season 50 of “SNL.” Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
Walker portraying NYC Mayor Eric Adams during an “SNL” sketch. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
“If you read about the show, if you’re knowledgeable about it at all, you can certainly pick up on things that are toxic about it,” Walker, 34, started. “The show hasn’t changed much in all the years they’ve been doing it.”
“There are things that went down on the show that I wouldn’t talk about for free,” he added. “There are a lot of things I’m still trying to find the right avenue to go into detail about.”
After pausing and pondering about what “SNL” may “benefit from” after 50 seasons, Walker argued that it may use a “measure of humanity.”
Walker during an “SNL” sketch on Oct. 1, 2022. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
Keenan Thompson and Walker during an “SNL” sketch. Rosalind O’Connor/NBC via Getty Images
“What ends up happening over the summer is oftentimes people are left hanging with big life decisions – people trying to start families or buy homes – and there’s no word from the show about whether they have their job,” he explained.
“The show won’t tell them all summer and then will ultimately end up firing them when there’ve been months of them trying to work their situation out,” he continued. “That wasn’t my situation, but I’ve known of situations where that’s happened.”
Although Walker has not clarified whether or not he left “SNL” voluntarily or was axed by creator Lorne Michaels, he asserted that the show might be more accommodating when it got here to cutting main solid members unfastened.
Lorne Michaels attends “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Feb. 14, 2025. Getty Images
Lorne Michaels attends the 2023 PEN America Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on May 18, 2023. Getty Images for PEN America
“If there’s one thing I hope for the future of the show, it’s that a sprinkle of humanity could be added into it,” he shared. “I understand it’s show business and it’s cutthroat, but people have lives, and people deserve to know the status of their job at a reasonable juncture.”
“Most people are told they’re coming back to work in a week,” Walker continued.
The comic and actor, who was best recognized on “SNL” for impersonating NYC Mayor Eric Adams in a number of sketches, was the first star to announce his exit shortly after Michaels, 80, teased a solid shakeup forward of the new season’s premiere on Oct. 4.
Ego Nwodim and Walker during an “SNL” sketch on May 17, 2025. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
Devon Walker as Michael Strahan during an “SNL” sketch on Sept. 28, 2024. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
Taking to Instagram on Monday, Aug. 25, Walker in contrast “SNL” to a relationship and admitted that it might be unhealthy at instances.
“Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool,” he wrote. “Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f–ked up lil family.”
Three more stars left the beloved selection show in the next days, including newcomer Emil Wakem, Michael Longfellow and Heidi Gardner.
Emil Wakim seems at “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” in New York City on Feb. 14, 2025. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Michael Longfellow during an “SNL” sketch on Jan. 21, 2023. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
“It was the most terrifying, thrilling and rewarding experience of my life, and I will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home,” Wakim, 27, said Wednesday, Aug. 27.
“Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL,” Longfellow, 31, added in the future later. “Wish I was but, so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far.”
Longfellow, who joined as a featured participant in 2022 before being promoted to the main solid last yr, later detailed how he realized he was kicked off the long-running sketch show
Heidi Gardner and Michael Longfellow during an “SNL” sketch on Jan. 25, 2025. Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty Images
Heidi Gardner at the 2025 Big Slick Party and Show in Kansas City on May 31, 2025. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
Although The Post confirmed Gardner’s exit on Aug. 28 after a record-breaking eight seasons as the longest-tenured girl on the show, she has still not addressed the surprising news herself.
Elsewhere during his interview with Variety, Walker touched upon the upset fan reactions following the news of his exit – which he also spoke to on X last week.
“I appreciate it, because if you’re sad about it, that means I made something that meant something to you, which is what’s most important to me,” he told the outlet. “I do this, first, because I enjoy it, and, second, because any artist hopes the things they make resonate with people.”
Emil Wakim, Walker and Michael Longfellow at the American Museum of Natural History’s Museum Gala in New York City on Dec. 5, 2024. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
“I respect people being sad, but I think the level of sadness feels a little silly,” Walker added. “I’m still here. I’m still going to make stuff. The show is, by its nature, a temporary job.”
“The show is made to be left,” he concluded. “I left it, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Meanwhile, it was announced that 5 new featured gamers shall be becoming a member of “SNL” for its landmark 51st season next month.
Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska will make their debuts when the sketch comedy show returns to Studio 8H on Oct. 4, NBCUniversal revealed Tuesday.
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