Ego Nwodim is the latest to leave the Saturday Night Live cast. Nwodim made the announcement on Instagram, and rather than let fans guess what happened to cause her exit, she readily offered in her statement that it was her own decision.

“SNL” creator and producer Lorne Michaels told Puck in August that the coming season of the show would include some shake-ups, as he felt “pressure to reinvent this season.”

Bowen Yang is speaking out about the wave of departures from "SNL," including longtime cast member Heidi Gardner.

Other stars set to return include Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernández, Andrew Dismukes and James Austin Johnson, as well as Season 50 newcomers Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline. Variety was the first to report the news.

"Saturday Night Live" star Chloe Fineman is still processing the sketch show's recent cast shake-up, calling it "pretty wild" and "shocking."

One alum has won an Oscar. Another has a Grammy. Several have acquired Emmys and Tonys — and they all have been featured players in only a single season of Lorne Michaels' long-running sketch comedy series.

Fans of Saturday Night Live are in shock after the announcement that Ego Nwodim will not be returning for the show’s 51st season, which starts on Saturday, October 4, 2025. The comedian and actress confirmed her departure after seven years on the sketch series, leaving behind a legacy of memorable characters and fan-favorite performances.