Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Michael Longfellow has spoken out about his exit.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, he posted a photo of himself at the Weekend Update desk, taken from the angle of someone backstage.
In a lengthy caption, he wrote, “Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was but, so it goes.”
Longfellow, 31, who joined the NBC sketch comedy in 2022 in Season 48 before his departure this week after Season 50, continued, “It was the best three years of my life so far.”
“I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience and everyone there. Lorne, you gave me the greatest job in the world and changed my life,” the comedian added. “If you take anything away from my time on SNL let it be that smoking you makes you skinny and popular, Jesus was Chinese, and if a tortoise ever gives you trouble just kill him tough guy. You won’t.”
Several celebs and “SNL” alums commented on his post.
Comedian Jill Kimmel, who is Jimmy Kimmel’s sister, commented, “Truly their loss, you were a fantastic addition to the cast.”
“Jesus WAS chinese,” current “SNL” cast member Bowen Yang wrote. “I love you michael.”
Molly Shannon commented, “You RULE michael. So honored and happy to have gotten to meet you and work with you. Congratulations on an excellent run on SNL! loved talking to you when I was there. Wishing you so much continued success.”
Emmy-nominated “Hacks” star Hannah Einbinder wrote, “Michael, you are one of the funniest comedians i know! i love you my pal. so excited for all that will become possible.”
Chloe Fineman wrote, “Will miss ur sleepy ass at pre-tapes,” with broken-heart emojis.
Longfellow is among the cast members to get caught up in what appears to be a bloodbath.
The show is having an upheaval, as multiple cast members have exited before Season 51.
Emil Wakim and Devon Walker also announced their departures this week, and Heidi Gardner is leaving after eight years. Writer Rosebud Baker, who contributed to the show from 2022 to 2025, was among the exits, too.
Amid the exodus, “SNL” alum Punkie Johnson even commented on an earlier post, “wtf is happening… This is like the departed.”
During a recent interview with Puck News, longtime “SNL” boss Lorne Michaels, 80, replied “yes” when he was asked if he plans to “shake things up” with the cast.
Season 50 starred Johnson, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Mikey Day, Fineman, Gardner, Kenan Thompson, Yang, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernandez, Andrew Dismukes, Longfellow, and Walker. Ashley Padilla, Wakim and Jane Wickline appeared as featured players.
“I’ll miss it all, but I’ll miss the friends I made and seeing them everyday the most,” Longfellow concluded in his post Thursday. “Excited for the future and things to come.”
