The Great SNL Shake-Up: Devon Walker and Emil Wakim Exit as Comedy Institution Prepares for Reinvention
The hallowed halls of Studio 8H are witnessing a seismic shift as Saturday Night Live prepares to shed its skin once again. In what can only be described as the entertainment equivalent of a major fashion house clearing its atelier for a new creative director’s vision, two prominent cast members have announced their departure from the iconic late-night institution.
Devon Walker, whose three-year tenure with the show has been nothing short of a rollercoaster of artistic triumph and behind-the-scenes turbulence, took to Instagram with the kind of candid honesty that would make even the most seasoned fashion insider blush. “Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool,” Walker confessed with the raw authenticity of a backstage tell-all. “Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction.” His post, provocatively titled “wait … did he quit or did he get fired?” carries the dramatic flair of a couture collection reveal—mysterious, compelling, and utterly unforgettable.
The departure narrative took an even more poignant turn with Emil Wakim’s announcement. The rising star, who graced Studio 8H for just one season as a featured player, described receiving “a gut punch of a call”—the kind of devastating news that feels like discovering your dream Hermès bag has been discontinued. Yet Wakim’s response exemplified grace under pressure, channeling the resilience of fashion’s greatest survivors. “Every time I scanned into the building I would think how insane it is to get to work there,” he shared in an Instagram post that read like poetry, each lowercase letter a deliberate artistic choice.
The creative bloodletting extends beyond the cast to the writers’ room, where Celeste Yim—the show’s groundbreaking first openly nonbinary writer—has also chosen to close this chapter after five transformative seasons. Yim’s departure statement reads like a fashion diary entry, complete with the breathless energy of Fashion Week: “It was a dream come true BUT was also grueling and I slept in my office every week BUT my friends helped me with everything BUT I got yelled at by random famous men BUT some famous girls too BUT I loved it and I laughed every day.”
This exodus comes as no surprise to industry insiders who have been tracking the subtle shifts in Lorne Michaels’ typically inscrutable approach. The legendary producer recently confirmed to Puck that changes were inevitable following the show’s historic 50th season milestone. “It’ll be announced in a week or so,” he revealed with the calculated mystery of a luxury brand teasing their next collaboration.
Like fashion’s cyclical nature, SNL has consistently reinvented itself throughout its five-decade reign, transforming comedic talent into cultural icons. From John Belushi’s rebellious energy to Kate McKinnon’s chameleonic brilliance, each era has reflected the zeitgeist while pushing boundaries.
As the 51st season approaches its October 4th premiere, one thing remains certain: James Austin Johnson will continue his portrayal of President Trump, ensuring continuity amidst the creative revolution. This strategic retention mirrors how successful fashion houses maintain signature elements while embracing bold new directions.
The departures of Walker, Wakim, and Yim mark more than simple career transitions—they represent the natural evolution of an institution that has mastered the art of perpetual reinvention, proving once again that in comedy, as in fashion, change is the only constant.
