Ego Nwodim Exits ‘SNL’ After Seven Seasons, Leaving Season 51 Without a Black Woman in the Cast

Ego Nwodim has announced she is departing Saturday Night Live ahead of the show’s 51st season, ending a seven-season run that began in 2018. She shared the news on Sept. 12 in an Instagram post, thanking Lorne Michaels, castmates, writers and crew for “seven unforgettable seasons.”

“The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight,” wrote the comedian to her Instagram. “But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL. I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship.

Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories (and that laughter) with me always.”

Ego Nwodim exit lands amid a broader reshuffle before the Oct. 4 season premiere. Recent weeks have seen multiple departures and five new featured players added, with Michaels saying fresh talent is vital to keeping the show current. The Season 51 premiere date remains Oct. 4 on NBC and Peacock.

Nwodim’s departure follows Punkie Johnson’s 2024 exit ahead of Season 50. Without a late addition, SNL is poised to open its new season without a Black woman on the roster for the first time in years.

The news revived a long-running discussion about representation at SNL: in 50 years, only eight Black women have been cast, from Yvonne Hudson (the first, in 1980–81) to Maya Rudolph, Leslie Jones, Sasheer Zamata, Ego Nwodim, and Johnson.

Tributes from current and former colleagues poured in on social media. Cecily Strong and Chloe Fineman each called Ego Nwodim “one of the best to ever do it,” while other alumni praised her characters and range.