NEED TO KNOW
Emil Wakim is bidding farewell to Saturday Night Live after one season.
The 27-year-old comedian announced his departure from the late-night comedy show via a statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Aug. 27, alongside a carousel of images from his time on the sketch-comedy show.
“i won’t be returning to snl next year,” Wakim began. “it was a gut punch of a call to get but i’m so grateful for my time there.”
“every time i scanned into the building i would think how insane it is to get to work there,” he continued. “it was the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience of my life and i will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home.”
Wakim went on to thank SNL creator Lorne Michaels “for taking a chance on me and changing my life.”
“i was so lucky to bring some of myself in there and say things i believed in and i’m excited for whatever chapter comes next,” he concluded his statement. “here’s to making more art without compromise.”
Wakim joined the NBC sketch comedy show 2024 for the show’s landmark 50th season.
Wakim was one of three new featured cast members for SNL season 50. He joined alongside Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline.
He made his debut in the season premiere episode, hosted by Jean Smart, on Sept. 28, and his final appearance was the season finale episode, hosted by Scarlett Johansson, on May 17.
Wakim would often pop up during SNL’s iconic “Weekend Update” segment, anchored by Michael Che and Colin Jost, playing various characters.
Will Heath/NBC via Getty
Wakim’s SNL farewell comes after Michaels revealed cast changes were coming for the 51st season set to premiere on Oct. 4.
The show creator explained in an interview with Puck News, published on Aug. 22, that major cast changes were delayed for the celebration of the show’s 50th season.
“There couldn’t be those kind of disruptions or anything that was going to take the focus of [the 50th season],” Michaels, 80, said.
Wakim is the latest cast member to leave SNL following the departure of Devon Walker.
Walker said goodbye to the show on Monday, Aug. 25, in an Instagram post, which was captioned, “me and baby broke up ♥️.”
Walker, 34, leaves after three seasons of SNL, of which he joined in 2020.
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Saturday Night Live season 51 premieres on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
