Punkie Johnson is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after 4 seasons.
Johnson apparently broke the information to an viewers at a stand-up comedy present at Brooklyn’s Union Corridor on July 31, at which fellow “SNL” solid members Molly Kearny, Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow had been also on the lineup.
Johnson confirmed her exit in a video posted to Instagram on Thursday.
“After 4 seasons, I can’t be returning to ‘SNL’ for the fiftieth,” Johnson mentioned, including that when she took an viewers query at her stand-up present about whether or not she was excited for the following season of the NBC sketch comedy sequence, she mentioned, “Oh, I ain’t coming again.”
“It’s no unhealthy blood, it’s no bridges burned, it’s no onerous emotions,” Johnson continued. “Bro, I like my folks! I didn’t assume none of this was going to be an enormous deal.”
“‘SNL’ was a dream I didn’t even know that I may obtain. I used to be part of one of the crucial elite establishments in comedy, and I’m so grateful for it. That’s nonetheless my folks. I like them. I’m gonna be on the after events appearing a plumb idiot!” Johnson mentioned, concluding with, “My time now has come to an finish, and, um, Punkie exterior now, y’all!”
Neither a spokesperson for “SNL,” nor Johnson’s brokers and managers, might be reached for remark.
Johnson’s announcement got here simply hours after experiences circulated that Maya Rudolph would return to “SNL” to play Vice President Kamala Harris via the 2024 election. Johnson herself had performed the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate on “SNL” and had previously retweeted posts on X that learn, “I need to see extra @Punkiejohnson as Kamala #SNL” and “If Lorne [Michaels] has the foresight, he would give @Punkiejohnson the Kamala Harris function completely. Possibly have Maya do a one-off the place she visits Punkie Kamala in a dream like the two Hillarys… and that’s it.”
Johnson joined “Saturday Evening Dwell” as a featured participant in 2020 for its forty sixth season. Forward of the forty eighth season in 2022, she was promoted to repertory standing. All through her time on the sequence, she appeared in varied sketches and “Weekend Replace” segments, and confirmed off her impressions of Queen Latifah, Ice Spice, Angel Reese, Sunny Hostin, Gayle King, Wanda Sykes, Mary J. Blige and extra.
Outdoors of “SNL,” Johnson has appeared in TV sequence together with “Area Drive,” “A Black Woman Sketch Present,” “Company” and “Adam Ruins Every part.”
