Comedian Punkie Johnson has announced her departure from “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) as the iconic sketch comedy show approaches its 50th season.
Johnson shared the news via Instagram on Thursday, accompanied by a video in which she stated, “After four seasons, I will not be returning to ‘SNL’ for the 50th.”
In the video, Johnson mentioned that she initially revealed her exit casually at her “Punkie and Friends” comedy show at Union Hall in Brooklyn, New York. This prompted a wave of text messages, phone calls, and online tags the following morning.
Clarifying the nature of her departure, Johnson emphasized that it was on amicable terms. “It’s no bad blood, it’s no bridges burned, it’s no hard feelings,” she said. “I love my people!”
Reflecting on the reaction to her announcement, Johnson humorously remarked, “I didn’t think none of this was going to be a big deal. See, this is why Dave Chappelle makes people lock up their phones.”
Having joined SNL in 2020, Johnson described her experience on the show as “a dream I didn’t even know that I could achieve” and expressed gratitude for being part of “one of the most elite institutions in comedy.” She reiterated her affection for the SNL team, saying, “That’s still my people. I love them.”
CNN has reached out to SNL representatives for comment regarding Johnson’s departure.
This news precedes the celebration of SNL’s 50th season on NBC, a significant milestone for the long-running show.
In related news, Sony Pictures announced earlier this week that its upcoming film about the pilot episode of SNL, titled “Saturday Night,” will be released in October. The film will feature a star-studded cast including Dylan O’Brien, Rachel Sennott, Finn Wolfhard, Jon Batiste, Willem Dafoe, J.K. Simmons, and Kaia Gerber.
