Former Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Redd has publicly stated that his former friend and colleague Kenan Thompson was not the person who physically assaulted him in an unresolved 2022 attack in New York City. The clarification comes amidst ongoing speculation about the nature of their rift.
The Assault and a Public Clarification
In a clip published by TMZ on Thursday, Redd, 40, directly addressed the rumours linking Thompson to the incident. "No, Kenan did not hit me," the comedian stated firmly. He expressed frustration that "people took it like Kenan hit me," but reiterated that his former co-star was not responsible for the punch he suffered outside a Manhattan comedy club two years ago.
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department confirmed to TMZ that the investigation into the assault remains open and that no arrests have been made. The Daily Mail has contacted the NYPD and representatives for Kenan Thompson for further comment.
The Root of the Rift: A Complicated Romance
The source of the estrangement between the two comedians stems from Redd's relationship with Thompson's ex-wife, Christina Evangeline. Redd addressed the situation in a social media clip on 6 January, though he did not name Evangeline directly.
Redd explained that romantic feelings developed after Evangeline helped him through the process of quitting prescription medication, which he referred to as dealing with "pill problems." He described her as the sole person who guided him towards recovery, leading to an emotional connection.
"I felt bad from the start," Redd admitted, calling the dynamics an "emotional double-edged sword." He added, "I hate doing something to somebody that I know would hurt them." Thompson and Evangeline finalised their divorce in 2022 after 11 years of marriage, which produced two children. TMZ reported in late 2022 that there was no overlap or infidelity between her relationships with Thompson and Redd.
Redd's Personal Struggles and SNL Experience
During the interview, Redd opened up about his past substance abuse, revealing he misused Xanax and Adderall during his tenure on Saturday Night Live from 2017 to 2022. He preferred obtaining the drugs from street dealers rather than a doctor, fearing being labelled "crazy."
He also described a challenging atmosphere behind the scenes at the iconic NBC show, claiming colleagues gossiped about him while he endured panic attacks. "It's crazy that somebody would watch you destroy yourself," Redd reflected.
Despite their fallout, Redd and Thompson's professional collaboration was successful; they jointly won an Emmy in 2018 for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for their SNL song parody Come Back, Barack.
Redd's main motivation for pursuing the relationship with Evangeline was a fear of missing out on true love. "I feel like I didn't know what love was and I just felt like I couldn't miss out on it," he said, describing himself as "in love and spiraling out." He acknowledged being aware of the public reaction to the revelation, having seen "every single thing everybody said."
