Emil Wakim is now the second cast member to exit Saturday Night Live before its season 51 premiere in October. His departure follows cast member Devon Walker’s dismissal, announced yesterday.
Wakim joined the show last year, ahead of its landmark 50th season. Most new cast members struggle for airtime in their first season, and Wakim had the third least screentime on the show this season, only beating out fellow freshman Jane Wickline and Walker.
“I won’t be returning to SNL next year,” the comic wrote in a post on Instagram. “It was a gut punch of a call to get but I’m so grateful for my time there. 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.
“Every time I scanned into the building I would think how insane it is to get to work there. 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 u to lorne for taking a chance on me and changing my life. I was so lucky to bring some of myself in there and say things I believed in and I’m excited for whatever chapter comes next. here’s to making more art without compromise.”
Saturday Night Live‘s fifty-first season premiers October 4.
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