Big changes continue to be announced for Season 51 of the hit NBC sketch comedy series, Saturday Night Live.
As part of the momentous changes brought about with the show’s upcoming fifty-first season, Saturday Night Live has officially announced that cast member Emil Wakim sadly won’t be returning for the series’ newest season, as confirmed on the comedian’s Instagram page.
Taking to social media, the 27-year-old comedian detailed his reaction to the announcement, voicing both appreciation for his tenure on the show as well as obvious disappointment regarding his departure.
“It was a gut punch of a call to get, but I’m so grateful for my time there,” Wakim said on Instagram. “I was at Six Flags celebrating my friend’s 36th birthday and went on a really emotional walk through Bugs Bunny Park and stared out across Daffy Duck Lake thinking about life.”
In spite of his mixed feelings for his SNL departure, Wakim expressed his thanks for his brief time on the series, along with longtime showrunner Lorne Michaels for casting him in the ensemble.
“Every time I scanned into the building, I would think how insane it is to get to work there,” Wakim said. “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. Thank you to Lorne for taking a chance on me and changing my life.”
The announcement comes just days after SNL announced that another featured player, Devon Walker, will similarly be stepping away from the series after three season on the show.
Speaking about his exit, Walker wrote on Instagram, “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 the dysfunction.”
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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