Devon Walker, a standout comic and actor best known for his sharp impersonation of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, has officially left the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) after a three-year stint. His departure, announced just over a week ago, comes amid a wave of cast changes that have sent ripples through the comedy world and reignited conversations about the show’s culture, direction, and legacy.
Walker’s exit was part of a broader shake-up at SNL, which also saw the departures of Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, and Emil Wakim. According to Variety, fans were quick to react, flooding social media with messages of support and dismay. Walker himself took to X (formerly Twitter) to reassure his followers, writing, “Y’all acting like we died lol we just getting different jobs.” In a candid interview with Variety, he reflected, “I appreciate it, because if you’re sad about it, that means I made something that meant something to you, which is what’s most important to me.”
For Walker, SNL was as much a learning ground as it was a proving ground. “Sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell,” he admitted in his farewell post. “We made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a fucked up lil family.” He elaborated to Variety, “I’m so grateful to have been at the show. I’ll be eternally grateful, for the good parts and the bad parts. I’m glad to have seen what that place is.”
The comedian’s nuanced take on the SNL experience points to a workplace that’s both storied and, at times, fraught. Walker did not shy away from mentioning the “toxic” aspects of the show’s environment, though he declined to delve into specifics. He did, however, highlight one area in need of improvement: “There is a measure of humanity that the show could benefit from,” Walker said. He described how cast members are often left in limbo over the summer, unsure if they’ll be returning until the last minute—a process he feels could be handled with more transparency and empathy. “People have lives, and people deserve to know the status of their job at a reasonable juncture,” he emphasized.
Despite these challenges, Walker expressed deep satisfaction with his time at SNL. “I do feel satisfied with my time on the show. I got to do this thing I wanted to do, which is make stuff with some of my friends,” he told Variety. “For most people, getting in the audition room is a huge victory in itself. Just getting to that stage is such a big thing. Plus, getting on that show as a stand-up, it feels like I was a really good high school golfer, and I wanted to get a scholarship. And a college is like, ‘We don’t really do golf here, but you’re good at swinging. Why don’t you play baseball?’”
Walker’s tenure included memorable sketches, such as his “Weekend Update” appearance as Draymond Green—a bit he said resonated with audiences and even got back to Green himself. He also co-created the “Milly Pounds and Shirty” sketch with James Austin Johnson, portraying lactose-intolerant British rappers to much acclaim.
His reflections on SNL’s culture echo broader critiques that have surfaced in recent years. As Barstool Sports noted, the show has faced criticism for an imbalance in its cast composition, with some arguing that SNL has favored performers over “organically funny” comedians in the past decade. The blog speculated that executive producer Lorne Michaels may have steered the show to better reflect shifting cultural trends, sometimes at the expense of the show’s comedic spontaneity.
This year’s departures and arrivals suggest a recalibration. Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, Jeremy Culhane, Brennan, and Marshall (from Please Don’t Destroy) have all joined the cast, signaling a possible return to what some see as SNL’s comedic roots. As Barstool Sports observed, “Getting back to the basics and seeing naturally funny people on screen…changes the show from ‘ehhhh ill maybe watch a highlight on youtube tomorrow if someone tells me theres a good skit’ to appointment TV.”
Walker’s own career trajectory seems emblematic of the SNL alumni experience. He’s not looking back, but rather forward—to new creative ventures and uncharted genres. “I want to tell stories, and I want to tell mine. I want to make stuff that feels honest and true to me,” he said. Sketch comedy, he noted, was never his ultimate goal. He’s now focused on his independent podcast, “My Favorite Lyrics,” which is attracting distribution offers, and is in talks with producers and streamers about film and TV projects. In fact, he and former SNL writer Gary Richardson have a film project slated to shoot in the coming weeks. Netflix has even reached out to discuss potential collaborations.
Walker is also considering a move into dramatic roles, inspired by his recent work in the short film “Baquiné Friends Forever.” He relishes the chance to explore “the full range of human emotions” beyond the relentless pursuit of laughs. “Apparently people read my Instagram post because I’m going to have some meetings with folks about entering the dramatic space. Netflix hit up my team and said, ‘We heard you Dev, let’s talk.’”
As for the deeper, more personal stories from his time at SNL, Walker hinted that he may one day share them—perhaps in a stand-up special. “There’s a lot to that story. I don’t know how or when I’d decide to tell it all the way, but, yeah… it won’t be free when it comes.”
Walker’s advice to new SNL cast members is simple but profound: “Make the stuff that feels the truest to you. Make the stuff that feels as close to your sensibility as possible… the closer you can be to your truth as an artist, the more fulfilled you will feel.” He pointed to examples like Tim Robinson and Julia Louis-Dreyfus—performers who found greater success after leaving SNL and pursuing their own creative voices.
Meanwhile, SNL continues to evolve. The show recently ended skits by the group Please Don’t Destroy, with Marshall joining the main cast and Martin Herlihy remaining as a writer. Despite all the changes, SNL’s ratings remain solid and it still dominates late night, according to Barstool Sports.
For Walker, and for SNL itself, change seems to be the only constant. As the show enters its next chapter and Walker embarks on new creative adventures, both appear poised to keep audiences guessing—and laughing—for years to come.
