Several cast members of Saturday Night Live (SNL) are rumored or confirmed to be leaving following the 50th season, though official announcements remain limited.
Confirmed Departures
- Punkie Johnson, Chloe Troast, and Molly Kearney were announced last summer as leaving the show
Strong Rumors and Speculation
- Bowen Yang : He appeared emotional during the season 50 finale, hugging cast members tightly, which sparked rumors he might be leaving. Yang himself neither confirmed nor denied these rumors but hinted he might be nearing the end of his SNL tenure
- Michael Che : He publicly stated during a stand-up in early 2025 that this season might be his last, though it was unclear if he was serious. He has been contemplating leaving for several seasons and is a strong candidate to depart soon
- Colin Jost : Alongside Michael Che, Jost is often speculated to be leaving. He has been busy with other projects, and the finale hosted by Scarlett Johansson fueled speculation about his possible exit
- Heidi Gardner : She has mentioned feeling "sketch fatigue" and hinted at a possible departure, though nothing is confirmed
- Mikey Day : When asked about returning for season 51, he gave an ambiguous answer, leaving his future uncertain
Other Notes
- Sarah Sherman was jokingly mentioned as leaving during the finale, but no official confirmation exists
- Ego Nwodim and Bowen Yang are at points in their careers where leaving is plausible but not confirmed
- Kenan Thompson, the longest-serving cast member, is expected to stay on for the foreseeable future
Summary
While no definitive list of departures has been officially confirmed during the season 50 finale, Bowen Yang, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Heidi Gardner, and Mikey Day are the main cast members rumored or expected to leave Saturday Night Live soon. Punkie Johnson, Chloe Troast, and Molly Kearney have already been confirmed as departing
