Kenan Thompson, the longest-serving cast member on Saturday Night Live, has admitted he definitely thinks about departing the show after more than two decades. He expressed apprehension about the emotional farewell, describing it as a potential 'drastic change.' Thompson's reflections come amid recent cast shakeups in the show's 51st season.
Kenan Thompson joined Saturday Night Live in 2003 and has remained the program's longest-tenured performer. In a recent interview with People magazine, he revealed that he 'definitely' contemplates leaving the sketch comedy series, adding that the goodbye 'is gonna suck.'
Thompson elaborated on the deep connections formed over the years, stating, 'There’s just so many layers to it. It’s not just the on-screen that you see in that one, you know, camera shot. It’s so many people behind the scenes and years and years and years with each one of those people. So it’s gonna be a lot.' He even joked about avoiding the moment by 'ripp[ing] the bandaid and run[ning] out the back door and not say[ing] nothing to nobody and just writ[ing] letters.'
As a veteran, Thompson has witnessed numerous colleagues depart, noting that such exits are 'usually always sad.' Season 51, which began after a significant cast overhaul, saw Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, and Emil Wakim leave before its start, with Bowen Yang exiting partway through. In May 2025, Thompson hinted at the impending changes to Page Six, saying, 'Especially this year where it feels like there’s maybe, possibly, a lot of change next year. You want everyone to stay forever, knowing that people may be making decisions this summer…it’s always like you want your kids to stay young.'
Reflecting on his own potential departure, Thompson admitted, 'It’s tough for me because I have yet to have the moment... I’m dreading the moment. I might collapse in the moment because it’s been so many years and so many relationships.' He never anticipated SNL becoming such a central part of his life, adding, 'That’s gonna be a drastic change at this point that I never thought... ‘SNL’ would be such a large component in my life. I never thought I’d even get the job in the first place.'
Meanwhile, the show welcomed newcomers Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska for Season 51. Producer Lorne Michaels expressed optimism, telling Entertainment Tonight, 'Change is good. The people we’re bringing in, I’m really excited about.'
