Chris Redd Leaving ‘Saturday Night Live’ After Five Seasons

Chris Redd SNL Segment (Credit: NBC)

Chris Redd won’t be returning to Saturday Night Live for the show’s season 48 premiere.

In a statement Monday evening, Redd announced he’s leaving the NBC sketch series after five seasons.

“Being a part of SNL has been the experience of a lifetime,” he said. “Five years ago, I walked into 30 Rock knowing that this was an amazing opportunity for growth. Now, with friends who have become family and memories I will cherish forever, I’m grateful to Lorne Michaels and to the entire SNL organization. From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you all enough.”

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Redd has a standup special in the works at HBO Max that will premiere later this year titled Chris Redd: Why Am I Like This? He’s also set to star in the feature film Cyber Monday that’s in development at Universal.

The comedian joined SNL in 2017. He was known for showing off his rap skills, as well as playing New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Kanye West, Stephen A. Smith, Katt Williams, and Will Smith. He won an Emmy Award for his work on the show in 2018.

He is the eighth cast member to leave SNL since the season 47 finale in May, following the exits of Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor and Aristotle Athari.

Returning cast members include Michael Che, Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Colin Jost, Ego Nwodim, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson and Bowen Yang, as well as Andrew Dismukes, Punkie Johnson, James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman.

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Last week, SNL announced four new comedians — Devon Walker, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow and Marcello Hernandez — are joining the series as featured players for the new season.

SNL launched in 1975, and is produced in association with Broadway Video. Lorne Michaels is creator and executive producer.

Season 48 premieres Oct. 1 on NBC and streams live on Peacock.

Watch Chris Redd in the sketch below.