Former Saturday Night Live star Chris Redd has made a series of startling revelations about his time on the iconic sketch show, confessing to a battle with prescription drug addiction and admitting he sold pills to fellow cast members.
A Struggle with Pills on the SNL Set
In a candid new video posted to Instagram, the 40-year-old comedian reflected on his five-season tenure on NBC's Saturday Night Live from 2017 to 2022. Redd openly discussed a "difficult period" in his life, stating he had "some pill issues" and "some pill problems" while working on the programme.
He clarified the situation was "nothing too crazy, but crazy for my Black ass," before dropping a bombshell. Redd claimed he was "selling some to the people, to some of my castmates," though he refused to name names, adding, "I'm not gonna snitch on y'all motherf***ers man."
Redd described the isolating experience of being under the influence while colleagues criticised him. "It was really funny to me that I would be around on this s*** and people would talk s*** about me, and I would hear them because you know some of that Adderall and s*** got you f***ing super hearing," he said. He recalled having panic attacks and feeling a lack of concern from those around him. "It's just crazy that people would watch you destroy yourself," he added emotionally.
An Unconventional Romance and a Source of Support
Redd identified one person who did intervene: Christina Evangeline, the ex-wife of his former SNL co-star Kenan Thompson. Thompson, the show's longest-serving cast member who joined in 2003, was married to Evangeline for 11 years after a 15-year relationship; they share two children. Thompson filed for divorce in May 2022.
Redd emphasised the unique nature of his subsequent relationship with Evangeline. "I'm not the type of person to scheme on a person. I'm not the type of person to even date somebody that one of my homies is dating," he stated. "This is a very unique, nuanced thing that happened. We were all cool... It was never nothing crazy until it got crazy."
He credited Evangeline with helping him seek therapy and providing a new perspective. "She helped me with my therapy journey. And she told me stuff about her life that made me look at a lot of people involved differently. And in that time, we fell in love," Redd revealed.
Choosing Love Amidst Regret and Fallout
Redd expressed profound mixed feelings about the relationship, acknowledging the pain it likely caused Thompson. "I felt bad from the start," he admitted. "This always felt like an emotional double-edged sword for me because I really love everything me and Kenan did... And I hate doing something to somebody that I know would hurt them."
However, he stated he ultimately chose love, even as it damaged his reputation. "It made me look terrible, it made me look terrible to people that I love — a lot of my fans," he said, becoming tearful. Addressing disappointed fans directly, he explained, "I don't feel cool about this at all, besides the fact that I found somebody that makes me feel like I didn't even know what love was for real."
Redd disclosed that he and Thompson had discussed the situation and agreed to keep it private. "We were cool, and we continued to work for a year after we talked about it," he recalled. He linked the public revelation of the relationship to his abrupt exit from SNL in 2022, saying, "As soon as everybody found out, and s*** changed. And then by the time everybody found out and the world found out, I was out of there. SNL."
If you or someone you know is suffering from drug addiction, you can seek confidential help and support 24-7 from Frank, by calling 0300 123 6600, texting 82111, or visiting their website. In the U.S., contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP.
