Emil Wakim leaves 'Saturday Night Live' after 1 season: 'A gut punch' Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY August 28, 2025 at 12:36 AM The "SNL" shakeup is continuing as another star exits Studio 8H. Emil Wakim is leaving "Saturday Night Live" after one season, he revealed in an Aug. 27 Instagram post.
- - Emil Wakim leaves 'Saturday Night Live' after 1 season: 'A gut punch'
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY August 28, 2025 at 12:36 AM
The "SNL" shake-up is continuing as another star exits Studio 8H.
Emil Wakim is leaving "Saturday Night Live" after one season, he revealed in an Aug. 27 Instagram post. The comedian made clear in an emotional and slightly irreverent announcement that it was not his decision.
"I won't be returning to 'SNL' next year," he said. "It was a gut punch of a call to get but I'm so grateful for my time there. I was at six flags celebrating my friends 36th birthday and went on a really emotional walk through bugs bunny park and stared out across daffy duck lake thinking about life."
Wakim, who joined "SNL" in 2024 as a featured player for Season 50, described working on the show as "the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience of my life," adding that he "will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home."
Emil Wakim attends 'SNL50: The Homecoming Concert' on Feb. 14, 2025, in New York City.
One of Wakim's most memorable "SNL" appearances was an April "Weekend Update" segment where he joked about being "conflicted" and "guilty" living in America.
"I'm an American. In my bones I am, and I know we're bad because my life is so good, there's just no way it's cruelty-free," he quipped. "I love my life. I do. I just don't want to know how it's made."
Wakim also played a "guy who happens to look like" Luigi Mangione, the man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in a December cold open.
"I haven't paid for a meal in Brooklyn in days," his character joked in the sketch.
Wakim was the second "SNL" star to announce his departure ahead of Season 51 in the fall. The first was Devon Walker, who revealed in an Aug. 25 Instagram post that he is leaving the show. Walker joined the cast of "SNL" in 2022 and starred for three seasons.
"Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool," he wrote on Instagram. "Sometimes it was toxic as hell."
Devon Walker to exit 'SNL' in first Season 51 cast departure: 'Toxic'
But Walker described his exit from "SNL" as "good news," telling fans that "it was just time for me to do something different."
Emil Wakim attends 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' on Feb. 16, 2025 in New York City.
In recent days, "SNL" writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker also announced they were leaving the show.
"SNL" typically adjusts its cast by losing some stars and adding new ones in between seasons. Ahead of Season 50 in 2024, Molly Kearney, Punkie Johnson and Chloe Troast left the show, while Jane Wickline, Ashley Padilla and Wakim joined.
Possible additions to the cast for Season 51 have not been announced.
Who's out at 'SNL'? Lorne Michaels promises a shake-up
The exits come on the heels of "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels teasing a cast shake-up in an interview with Puck. The producer said he wanted to keep the cast together as much as possible through the landmark 50th season to avoid disruption. But when Puck asked if Michaels felt "pressure to reinvent" in Season 51, he confirmed, "Yeah, for sure. It'll be announced in a week or so."
The only cast member Michaels confirmed will be back was James Austin Johnson, who will continue playing President Donald Trump.
"SNL" will return for its 51st season on Oct. 4.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'SNL' cast departures: Emil Wakim exits, calls news a 'gut punch'
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: VoXi MAG
Read More >> Full Article on Source: VoXi MAG
#US #ShowBiz #Sports #Politics #Celebs