Ego Nwodim leaves SNL ahead of Season 51

Ego Nwodim announced Friday that she is leaving Saturday Night Live after seven seasons, joining a wave of departures that have reshaped the longrunning sketch show's lineup ahead of its 51st season. In an Instagram post published on Friday, Nwodim wrote that "the hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight" and said she was "immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support and friendship."

The exit was notable because Nwodim had been listed among the cast members expected to return for Season 51 earlier in the week. A spokesperson for NBC later confirmed that she would not be returning, saying she had decided to pursue other opportunities. Media reports said Nwodim's choice came after the cast for the coming season had been set.

Nwodim joined SNL as a featured player in 2018 and was promoted to the main cast in 2020. She became a familiar presence on the show's Weekend Update desk and in sketches such as Lisa from Temecula. Her Miss Eggy bit from last season went viral after the live audience responded with an expletive, a moment that drew widespread attention and conversation about the show.