Chris Redd tears up as he recalls dating Kenan Thompson’s ex-wife

Chris Redd is taking to social media to share his position on his date with former Saturday Night Live co-star Kenan Thompson’s ex-wife.

In a long video posted to Instagram on Tuesday, January 6, the 40-year-old comedian revealed his New Year’s resolutions.

“I’m not really a decision-maker, but I am determined. I’m going to be more vulnerable and open,” Red said, adding that changes will occur in all aspects of his life going forward.

“So, for a long time, I’ve wanted to work on something that’s been around for like four or five years, but you know, I’ve never worked on it before,” he said.

“I know a lot of people are talking about me dating Kenan Thompson’s ex-wife (Christina Evangeline) and how that happened. I’ll just say it straight,” Red continued, later adding, “There was no plan.”

The actor, who co-starred with Thompson on SNL for five seasons, also said he had seen others comment on the situation.

“Everything that people have been saying, I’ve seen it. And the bottom line is, I’m not the type of person to put people down. I’m not the type of person to date whoever I like. One of my buddies did, and this is a very unique and nuanced event,” Red said.

During this time, he said, “Everyone was cool.”

“Nothing was crazy until it got crazy,” he said.

Redd claimed that he began to fall in love with Evangeline, who shares two daughters with Thompson, while she was by his side during a difficult time in Thompson’s life.

“The bottom line is, while I was on the show, I had a pill problem. I also had a pill problem. Not crazy, but crazy for a black guy in me. I was selling pills to people and to my castmates,” Redd said, jokingly saying that no one had to worry about him “snitching” the pills.

Representatives for Saturday Night Live did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Mr. Red reiterated that he would feel that the people around him were acting differently.

“I would have panic attacks and[and people]wouldn’t even pay attention to me, they would just talk,” he said. “And it was crazy for someone to watch you destroy yourself.”

He believed that Evangeline was the only person who “called me about my stuff” and “helped me with my stuff.”

“She helped me through my therapeutic journey. Talking to me about her life helped me see many of the people involved in a different way. And that’s when we fell in love,” he said.

Red said the situation was an “emotional double-edged sword” that “made me feel bad from the beginning.”

“I really loved everything that me and Kenan did. I really appreciated all the work that we put together. I think we were a great team, and I hate to do something to someone that I know is going to hurt,” he continued.

In addition to SNL, Red also starred in Thompson’s self-titled comedy Keenan, which began in 2021 and lasted two seasons.

“I don’t feel like a player in this at all. But I chose love,” Red said.

Wiping away tears and raising his voice, the actor said that his decision “made me feel terrible.”

“To all my disappointed fans, please know that this is not another thing. I don’t feel like a pimp. I don’t feel cool about this at all, other than the fact that I found someone who makes me feel like I didn’t even know what real love was. And I feel like I can’t let that pass. And love doesn’t mean anything,” Red said.

He claimed that Thompson and Evangeline discussed his relationship and mutually agreed to keep it “secret.” They worked together for a year, after which “everyone noticed and things changed,” he recalls.

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“And by the time everyone noticed and the world noticed, I was out of there, SNL,” said Red, who announced his departure in September 2022.

He also reflected on being punched outside the Comedy Cellar in New York City in October 2022 and being taken to a nearby hospital.

“Most people who know me back home know that I would retaliate quickly, but that wasn’t the case this time. This time it felt fair. Fair enough,” he said, apparently referring to his own karma.

“Anyway, this wasn’t meant to be funny. I was just trying to add some kind of story to something that a lot of people are already talking about but I just don’t bring up,” Red said, apologizing again to those he disappointed.

Thompson and Evangeline married in 2011, but filed for divorce in June 2022.