Kenan Thompson recently told People that he was “definitely” considering leaving Saturday Night Live and was worried saying goodbye would “be the worst.” Thompson has appeared on “SNL” since 2003.
“There are so many layers. What you see in the camera shot is not just what’s on the screen,” Thompson said. “There are so many people involved behind the scenes, and you’ve been involved with each one of them for years and years. So it’s going to be tough.”
He then joked, “Maybe I should just rip the bandaid off and run out the back door and just write a letter without telling anyone.”
As the longest-serving cast member on “SNL,” Thompson has seen many of his co-stars leave. He said it’s “almost always sad” when someone leaves a show. Season 51 of “SNL” saw several long-time cast members leave the show, with Bowen Yang being the most recent to leave the show.
“It’s tough for me because I haven’t had that moment yet,” Thompson said. “If I were on the other side, I’d be a little more like, ‘Yeah, it’s okay,’ or, ‘Just shake it off.’ But I’m scared of that moment. I could collapse in that moment. I’ve had so many relationships over the years that I just…”
He continued, “At this point, it’s going to be a drastic change that I never expected ‘SNL’ to be such a big part of my life. I never thought I’d get that job in the first place.”
Back in May 2025, Thompson teased a major shake-up of the cast for season 51. Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow and Emil Wakim all left before the season started, with Yan being the last to leave.
“Especially this year, and probably next year, we’re going to see some big changes,” Thompson told Page Six. “Knowing the decisions people may make this summer, wanting everyone to stay forever is the same way I always want my kids to stay young.”
Season 51 saw a handful of new faces join SNL, including Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Cam Patterson, and Veronica Slawkowska. “Change is good,” SNL mastermind Lorne Michaels told Entertainment Tonight about the new additions. “Change is good. I’m really excited about the people we’re bringing in.”
