Punkie Johnson has said goodbye to “Saturday Night Live” after four years on the cast.
The comedian, who joined the legendary NBC sitcom in 2020, announced Thursday that she will not be among the cast members returning for season 50 in the fall. She first broke the news during a recent comedy show.
“At the end of the show, I opened the floor for questions and everything was going well until someone asked, ‘What are you most looking forward to next season?’” Johnson said in an Instagram video. “I’m not going to lie to my friends, so I was just like, ‘Oh, I’m not coming back.’”
Just hours after the show, Johnson said her phone started filling up with calls, texts and notifications about her departure. She assured her followers that her decision to leave the show is “not with any ill intent.”
“No bridges have been burned, there are no hard feelings. Brother, I love my people,” he said, adding that he did not expect a big reaction to his departure.
News of the “Bottoms” and “Love Live” actor’s departure comes amid reports that “SNL” alum Maya Rudolph will reprise her Emmy-winning role as Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 election cycle. Johnson portrayed Harris during Season 49.
Johnson joined “SNL” in 2020 as a featured actress and rose through the ranks, reaching repertory status in 2022. Johnson became the eighth Black woman to be a cast member in the show’s history. She also became the second Black LGBTQ+ female cast member, following comedian Danitra Vance, who did not come out as gay during her tenure in the mid-1980s.
Johnson will continue to bring his comedy to audiences through his Childish & Petty tour. Still, he said, “'SNL' was a dream I didn't even know I could achieve.”
“I was part of one of the most elite institutions in comedy and I’m so grateful for that. They’re still my people, I love them,” she said. “I’m going to be at the after-parties making a fool of myself. My time has come to an end and Punkie is out.”
