\u201cThe hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight,\u201c she wrote to her Instagram Stories. \u201dBut after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL<\/a>. I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship. Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories, and that laughter, with me always.”<\/p>\n The upcoming Season 51 would have been her eighth.<\/p>\n The news comes after the show\u2019s bloodbath firings prompted goodbyes to Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, and eight-seasoner Heidi Gardner. Per New York Post, Gardner\u2019s contract was not renewed, killing the wide assumption that she made the choice to leave on her own. Gardner has yet to comment on her own exit. Nwodim made the shock announcement just days after SNL boss Lorne Michaels confirmed<\/a> that changes to the cast were complete.<\/p>\n Five new players were announced last week, including Veronika Slowikowska, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and \u201cPlease Do Not Destroy\u201d member Ben Marshall. Major stars including Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, Sarah Sherman, Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman and more were confirmed to return<\/a> alongside Nwodim before her announcement Friday.<\/p>\n Nwodim joined the show in 2018 as the only new cast member ahead of Season 44. She emerged as one of the show\u2019s strongest sketch players with characters like \u201cLisa from Temecula.\u201d Pedro Pascal hosted the episode where that character first appeared, and Nwodim\u2019s performance, together with the host\u2019s difficulty holding back his laughter, made the sketch one of SNL\u2018s most beloved in recent history.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n It was just this past year that Nwodim\u2019s turn as \u201cMs. Eggy\u201d went viral, as audience members yelled impromptu expletives during her \u201cWeekend Update\u201d appearance.<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cCory Booker out here with his filibuster\u2014shoot, I\u2019ve had my fill of busters,\u201d Nwodim joked in character, before asking the crowd, \u201cThese men ain\u2019t what?\u201d Some crowd members responded, \u201cs–t\u201d in response. The answer she had in mind was \u201cworth a damn,\u201d she revealed, but the surprising crowd answer was comedy gold.<\/p>\n Fellow cast member Bowen Yang later called the sketch his \u201cfavorite moment in televised history ever,\u201d and many online users agreed. <\/p>\n She also played in politics, portraying conservative commentator Candace Owens on more than one occasion, as well as other Black women figures like former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre<\/a>. <\/p>\n Her appearances on the show as Dionne Warwick were so popular that Warwick herself praised the star\u2019s impression <\/a>and appeared alongside her on the show.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Nwodim\u2019s been clear that she\u2019s interested in the freedom to take on other gigs. She told Deadline<\/a> in 2023 that SNL was a \u201cdream come true,\u201d but \u201cI want my other dreams to come true. I want to be in films and I want to do more TV as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The news is still a shock, particularly as fans just released a collective breath when cast changes were confirmed done and most of the show\u2019s major stars seemed to be sticking around. Wrote Today host Jenna Bush Hager in reply<\/a> to Nwodim\u2019s announcement on Instagram, \u201cWhat??? I will miss this!!!! But congrats!\u201d<\/p>\n SNL alum Cecily Strong added, \u201dI just texted you but I also want to say it loud and proud here: it was an honor and total joy to get to work with you. One of the best to ever do it.\u201d<\/p>\n And original SNL cast member Laraine Newman summed up a lot of fans\u2019 initial reactions by simply commenting, \u201cNooooooo\ud83d\ude22\ud83d\ude22\ud83d\ude22\ud83d\ude22.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Ego](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ME2CRCY52ZB6FOPWLRWVP7X4VE.jpg\")
Instagram\/screengrab <\/p>\n![\"Heidi](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/7TLXC4564VFO5EGTTSS6JZNBR4.jpg\")
Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim at The Television Academy in North Hollywood, CA on June 2, 2025. NBC\/Todd Williamson\/NBC via Getty Images <\/p>\n