It’s not just us who are upset about Ego Nwodim’s sudden exit from Saturday Night Live.
Days after SNL announced its supposedly finalized cast list for season 51, Nwodim shared on Instagram on Friday morning that she was not returning for the late-night sketch comedy show’s 51st season.
“The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight. But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL,” Nwodim wrote in a statement. “I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship.”
After the announcement was made, many former and current SNL cast members and writers wished her luck in the comment section, including Rosebud Baker, Chloe Fineman, Alex English, Cecily Strong and Punkie Johnson.
Following the announcement, one of Nwodim’s most memorable impressions — Dionne Warwick — marked the moment with a tribute of her own on social media.
Nwodim has impersonated the singer and talk show host multiple times on SNL — twice during Season 46 and once during Season 47, where Warwick herself appeared in the sketch.
“Dear Dionne, Congratulations on seven wonderful seasons. 🥰 Love, Dionne,” the 84-year-old entertainer posted on X, along with a photo of the duo hugging backstage.
The comedian’s exit comes amid a major cast shake-up, with Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Michael Longfellow also not returning. Baker, Steven Castillo, Celeste Yim and John Higgins from the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy also announced that they were not returning next season as writers.
Nwodim is leaving the show following the show’s milestone 50th season. The 37-year-old actress joined the cast of SNL as a featured player before the start of its 44th season in 2018. Since then, she has been known for many of her impressions and her character “Lisa from Temecula,” which went viral on social media.
Though NBC has not announced a premiere date for Season 51, the show typically returns from its summer hiatus in late September or early October.
The cast expected to come back next season includes Fineman, Marcello Hernandez, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, Ashley Padilla, Jane Wickline and “Weekend Update” anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che.
Fans can watch Nwodim and previous seasons of SNL on Peacock.
Related: Another Regular Cast Member Departs ‘Saturday Night Live’
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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