{"id":117947,"date":"2025-08-29T08:05:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T08:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/117947\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T08:05:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T08:05:09","slug":"former-snl-star-punkie-johnson-also-has-whiplash-over-all-the-sudden-cast-exits-wtf-is-happening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/117947\/","title":{"rendered":"Former \u201cSNL\u201d star Punkie Johnson also has whiplash over all the sudden cast exits: ‘WTF is happening’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Punkie Johnson<\/a> is also baffled by all the cast and crew members leaving Saturday Night Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The comedian, who performed as a cast member on the series from 2020 to 2024, reacted to the news of her former colleagues’ exits from the show with a mix of confusion and sympathy.<\/p>\n

Johnson expressed her remorse and support for her fellow comedians in the comments section of various posts on the Instagram<\/a> page of the Saturday Night Network<\/a> podcast.<\/p>\n

\"Will<\/p>\n

Will Heath\/NBC<\/p>\n

Michael Longfellow on ‘Saturday Night Live’<\/p>\n

Seeing the news of Michael Longfellow bidding farewell<\/a> to the show after three seasons, Johnson commented<\/a>, “wtf is happening\u2026 This is like the departed\u2026 My sexy handsome work husband\u2026 I love you so much\u2026I\u2019ll call you\u2026 Welcome back outside baby\u2026. I\u2019ll see you out here soon.”<\/p>\n

Upon learning that Devon Walker is finished<\/a> with the series after three seasons, Johnson wrote<\/a>, “Welcome back Dev. It\u2019s fun outside baby\u2026 love u.”<\/p>\n

The comedian shared similar sentiments on another post<\/a> about featured player Emil Wakim checking out of Studio 8H after just a season<\/a>. “You beautiful man\u2026 this is a shocker to us all I\u2019m sure,” Johnson wrote. “We should stand at the doors of 30 Rock and act a fool for you\u2026 Keep your head up baby\u2026 Let\u2019s play outside.. it\u2019s been fun.”<\/p>\n

Johnson also addressed SNL writer Rosebud Baker, who contributed to the show from 2022 to 2025, after learning that she wouldn’t return as a scribe for season 51. “Rosebud for life,” Johnson commented<\/a>. “Welcome back to outside stank\u2026 we having a good time.”<\/p>\n

She also reacted to the exit of her former costar Heidi Gardner<\/a>, who was confirmed to have exited<\/a> the show on Thursday after eight seasons. “Ahhhhhh Lawd not my Heidi,” Johnson wrote on the post dedicated to Gardner<\/a>. “This probly [sic] the biggest surprise of this ‘shake up’ Heidi you are my shining star\u2026 You had a great run and I admire everything about you. CONGRATULATIONS HEIDI\u2026 YOU ARE AN SNL LEGEND FOR LIFE\u2026 See you outside.”<\/p>\n

\"Will<\/p>\n

Will Heath\/NBC<\/p>\n

Emil Wakim on ‘Saturday Night Live’<\/p>\n

Longtime SNL boss Lorne Michaels previously confirmed<\/a> that James Austin Johnson<\/a>, who provides the show’s impressions of President Trump, will be sticking around for season 51, which premieres Oct. 4.<\/p>\n

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly’s<\/a> free daily newsletter<\/a> to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.<\/p>\n

The Bottoms<\/a> actress left SNL ahead of the show’s landmark 50th season in 2024. She described parting with the show as “a neutral thing” during an interview on the Fly on the Wall<\/a> podcast.<\/p>\n

“By February of last season, I was like, nope, I’m done,” the comedian recalled. “The season before that, I questioned it, I talked to my team, like, ‘I don’t really know if I belong at this job, so maybe I should step away.’ I told them super, super late, right after I found out I’d get to go back. They’re like, ‘Punkie, you need a plan, you can’t just quit your job!'”<\/p>\n

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n