SNL Shakeup 2025: Emil Wakim, Devon Walker, and Heidi Gardner Exit the Stage Left

As the iconic sketch comedy show gears up for its much-hyped 51st season, fans are buzzing — not about new characters or killer impressions — but about who’s not coming back. That’s right, Emil Wakim, Devon Walker, and longtime favorite Heidi Gardner have all waved their goodbyes, and the internet has thoughts.

Let’s break down the who, the why, and the what’s-next of this surprising cast shakeup that has comedy lovers and SNL stans doing double takes.

Emil Wakim: A Quick In and Out

Emil Wakim joined SNL as a featured player during Season 50. Young, fresh, and full of promise, Wakim seemed poised for greatness. But just one season in, he’s already out. According to sources, Wakim was quietly let go ahead of the Season 51 premiere. He called the experience "terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding" which is basically how we describe most group chats. No drama on the way out, but the short stint definitely raised eyebrows.

Devon Walker: Three Seasons and Out

Devon Walker, who joined in 2022, exited with a bang rather than a whisper. In a blunt Instagram post, he called the SNL work environment "toxic as hell" and pointed to internal dysfunction as the final straw. Yikes. While fans appreciated his unique voice and on-screen energy, it seems the off-screen energy just wasn’t it. Three seasons of chaos were enough for Walker and honestly, who can blame him?

Heidi Gardner: Farewell to a Fan Favorite

Heidi Gardner, a cast member since 2017, decided to move on after eight strong seasons. Known for standout characters like Bailey Gismert and Baskin Johns, Gardner became a staple of modern SNL. Her exit feels like the end of an era, but she’s already eyeing new creative projects that focus on character-driven storytelling. Translation: she’s ready to finally be weird without cue cards.

The Big Picture

With three departures shaking up the SNL cast list, Season 51 is starting off with a lot of new energy — for better or worse. Whether you’re mourning the loss of Heidi Gardner’s bizarre brilliance or sipping the tea from Devon Walker’s exit, one thing’s for sure: Saturday nights just got a whole lot more unpredictable.

Stay tuned, comedy lovers. This is only the beginning.