Devon Walker Brushes Off SNL Shakeup as Heidi Gardner Departs Ahead of Season 51
Devon Walker told fans not to panic after news of multiple Saturday Night Live exits ahead of Season 51, reminding everyone that, actually, he is very much alive. Hi, I’m Riley Carter, and yes, the internet is spiraling, but let’s keep it cute and factual while we sip this tea.
Another day, another comedy institution resetting its roster. After headlines flagged that four SNL cast members are out before the October 4 premiere, Walker, 34, hopped on social to set the tone. When a fan on X wished him and fellow comic Michael Longfellow well, Walker reposted with the dry wit of someone who knows the assignment: “yall acting like we died lol we just getting different jobs.” It is the calmest clapback of the week and a reminder that turnover at 30 Rock is a feature, not a bug.
Walker’s first formal comment came via Instagram on August 25, where he shared a selfie in front of the SNL signage, a text bubble reading “I’m out,” plus on-set shots and a cheeky image of Joe Biden stomping. The caption, “me and baby broke up,” framed his exit as the end of a wild relationship. In a longer note, he called jobs in entertainment “a bunch of little marriages,” acknowledging that some last and many do not. His SNL years, he wrote, were sometimes “really cool,” sometimes “toxic as hell,” but ultimately produced a “little family” with collaborators Gary and Alex. He even joked about looking “caked up” in one of the photos, because even breakup posts deserve a thirst-adjacent moment.
On the logistics front, Emil Wakim, 27, who joined last season, confirmed he will not return. He called the call a “gut punch,” then thanked Lorne Michaels for taking a chance and promised more art “without compromise.” Michael Longfellow, exiting after three seasons, praised what he called the “greatest job in the world,” thanked Lorne for changing his life, and shouted out the time his mom made it on air. He will miss his friends most, but said he is excited for what comes next. As for Heidi Gardner, 42, The Post confirmed her departure, a significant shift considering she was the longest-tenured woman last season. Gardner joined in Season 43 and was promoted to the main cast in 2019. She has not publicly addressed the exit yet.
Let’s ground this in receipts. Walker’s quip appeared on X, his longer reflection lives on Instagram, and Wakim and Longfellow also used Instagram to break their news. Meanwhile, show creator Lorne Michaels, 80, has already told press that he feels “pressure to reinvent this season,” adding that announcements would land “in a week or so.” Translation: this is a planned refresh, not a five-alarm fire. Between those public statements and The Post’s confirmation of Gardner’s exit, the picture here is crystal clear.
There is also the timeline intrigue. Season 51 debuts October 4, which gives SNL a neat runway to lock in new players, shake up the writers room, and launch with a bold cold open. Walker, for his part, says he is heading to Japan, then aiming for a prestige drama, ideally with Julianne Moore. Manifesting a pivot from sketch to moody limited series? That is a flex. And if you are keeping score, several SNL alums have successfully made that pivot, and recently, the show has embraced shorter stints as a norm.
So where does this leave fans? In a familiar spot. SNL evolves in cycles, and a multi-exit moment tends to precede fresh creative energy. Walker’s “we just getting different jobs” message is the chill reality check amid the trending chaos. Wakim is grateful, Longfellow is nostalgic, Gardner is quiet for now, and Michaels is teeing up a reset.
What to watch next: final cast confirmations, the first host and musical guest reveal, and any new hires poised to become Weekend Update regulars or breakout character machines. Also, whether Walker’s wish for a Julianne Moore moment starts as a cameo or becomes a whole era. Anyway, that is the vibe. New season, new lineup, same Saturday-night circus. Okay cool, so like, yeah, that happened.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Instagram, X, NBC
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