Saturday Night Live cast member Devon Walker has announced his departure after three seasons, describing the show as "sometimes toxic as hell".
The 34-year-old comedian joined the NBC sketch show in 2022, known for impressions of Michael Strahan and Tim Scott. In an Instagram post, he likened jobs in the industry to "little marriages", saying "most of them are fleeting".
Walker noted that during his tenure, some moments were "really cool" but also "toxic as hell", and they made a "f***ed up lil family" amidst the dysfunction. He clarified the exit was amicable, stating "it was just time for me to do something different".
Co-stars Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner and Ziwe Fumudoh offered support in the comments. The departure follows promises from SNL boss Lorne Michaels of a major shake-up ahead of Season 51, citing pressure to reinvent.
Writer Celeste Yim, the show's first out transgender writer, also announced their exit, describing the job as "grueling" but "made all of my dreams come true". Yim acknowledged stress and long hours, but expressed gratitude for the queer writing tradition at SNL.
