‘SNL’ star Punkie Johnson says she’s leaving show after 4 seasons during NYC comedy gig: ‘I ain’t coming back’
Punkie Johnson is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after four seasons.
The comedian, 39, announced her departure during a stand-up show at Brooklyn’s Union Hall Wednesday night, telling the audience that she will not be returning for the show’s landmark 50th season.
“I just want to let you know after four seasons, I will not be returning to ‘SNL’ for the 50th,” Johnson said in an Instagram video Thursday, captioned “SNL I LOVE YOU … LOOKING FORWARD TO WHATS NEXT!!!”
Johnson said “everything was going fine” at her stand-up gig, which featured “SNL” co-stars and writers in attendance before an audience member asked what she was most “looking forward to most” in the upcoming season.
“I don’t remember the exact question, all I heard was, ‘me and next season.’ I’m not going to lie to my friends, so I just said, ‘Oh, I ain’t coming back,'” she recalled.
“Then I woke up this morning to text messages, phone calls, tags on the internet. I’m like, ‘What is going on!’ They’re like, ‘Well, you made some comments.’”
Johnson assured fans that there’s “no bad blood, no bridges burned, no hard feelings.”
“Bro, I love my people! I didn’t think none of this was going to be a big deal,” she went on, describing her time on “SNL” as “a dream I didn’t even know that I could achieve.”
“I was a part of one of the most elite institutions in comedy, and I am so grateful for it. That’s still my people. I love them. I’m gonna be at the after parties acting a plumb fool!” said Johnson, whose real name is Jessica Williams.
“My time now has come to an end, and, um, Punkie outside now, y’all!”
Her “SNL” co-star Ego Nwodim rushed to the comments to react to the news.
“Love you til the death of me Punkie!! Now get off instagram and whatever tf editing app you used and call me back please,” she wrote.
Current “SNL” stars Chloe Fineman and Heidi Gardner also expressed their admiration for Johnson in the post.
Johnson made history as the show’s second openly queer black woman when landed a regular cast member spot in 2022 — just two years after appearing as a guest.
During her time on “SNL,” Johnson appeared in various sketches and the “Weekend Update” segments. She also impersonated a myriad of celebs.
Johnson also boasts a few TV credits to her name, including the Netflix series “Space Force,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Corporate” and “Adam Ruins Everything.”
