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Devon Walker is officially moving on from Saturday Night Live, describing his decision as a mutual parting with the long-running NBC sketch series.
In an exclusive interview, the comedian told Rolling Stone:
“To be frank, I guess the best way I put it is like me and the show kind of looked at each other and we decided together that it was time to go our separate ways.”
He elaborated further, noting that the relationship between himself and the show had run its course.
“I think I felt ready to leave the show, and I think the show felt ready to leave me. Being on the show since 2022 has been a life commitment.”
For Devon Walker, that commitment came at a cost, adding that the late-night gig often pulled him away from personal moments:
“There was a lot of life stuff I had to miss out on to film SNL. I felt ready to do a different version of my life.”
The comedian admitted that both sides seemed ready for closure:
“I think that me and the show are both ready to turn the page.”
"Toxic as hell": Devon Walker announces departure from
Saturday Night Live
The news first broke last week, when Devon Walker shared a typed statement on Instagram announcing his departure.
Under the title, wait..did he quit or did he get fired?, on a note he penned on his Mac, he likened Hollywood careers to short-lived relationships.
“To me, jobs in this industry feel like a bunch of little marriages. Some of them last for a long time if we’re lucky, but most of them are fleeting. Permanent until they’re not.”
He didn’t shy away from describing the downsides of the gig, writing:
“Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we did what we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f***ed up lil family.”
Despite leaving, Devon Walker expressed gratitude for the memories in SNL.
"More than anything, I'm just happy I got to do it with Gary and Alex. N****s really went from running a bar show to working together at 30 Rock! It's a beautiful thing."
The comedian concluded his letter by informing readers he's headed to Japan, and wishing that everyone is "staying hydrated" and "getting some money today."
Devon Walker’s exit adds to a growing list of cast shakeups ahead of SNL’s Season 51 premiere in October. Michael Longfellow, Heidi Gardner, and Emil Wakim are also not returning.
The departures come after showrunner Lorne Michaels hinted earlier this month that “major changes” were in prospect.
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