Devon Walker to leave SNL after three seasons ahead of Season 51

Devon Walker is leaving Saturday Night Live after three seasons, the comedian announced in a social media post on Monday. In the message, he described his time on the NBC sketch show as a mixture of “really cool” moments and “toxic as hell” episodes, adding that the cast and crew built “a fucked up lil family.” The departure comes ahead of SNL’s 51st season, with Walker signaling that he intends to explore new opportunities, including a move to Japan and interest in a prestige drama upon his return.

Walker joined SNL in 2022 as a featured player and was promoted to the repertory cast a year later, during the show’s 50th anniversary season. His tenure included recurring appearances on Weekend Update and respected stand-up performances, and he arrived at a moment of notable turnover for the show. Before him, SNL’s cast had already seen a wave of exits in recent seasons, including veterans who helped shape the program over decades. Walker’s departure marks the first announced exit ahead of the upcoming season, with executives signaling that further changes were anticipated.

In his public messages, Walker framed the decision as a personal one rather than a sudden setback. He...