Punkie Johnson is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after four seasons.
Johnson apparently broke the news to an audience at a stand-up comedy show at Brooklyn’s Union Hall on July 31, at which fellow “SNL” cast members Molly Kearny, Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow were also on the lineup.
Johnson confirmed her exit in a video posted to Instagram on Thursday.
“After four seasons, I will not be returning to ‘SNL’ for the 50th,” Johnson said, adding that when she took an audience question at her stand-up show about whether she was excited for the next season of the NBC sketch comedy series, she said, “Oh, I ain’t coming back.”
“It’s no bad blood, it’s no bridges burned, it’s no hard feelings,” Johnson continued. “Bro, I love my people! I didn’t think none of this was going to be a big deal.”
“‘SNL’ was a dream I didn’t even know that I could achieve. I was a part of one of the most elite institutions in comedy, and I am so grateful for it. That’s still my people. I love them. I’m gonna be at the after parties acting a plumb fool!” Johnson said, concluding with, “My time now has come to an end, and, um, Punkie outside now, y’all!”
Neither a spokesperson for “SNL,” nor Johnson’s agents and managers, could be reached for comment.
Johnson’s announcement came just hours after reports circulated that Maya Rudolph would return to “SNL” to play Vice President Kamala Harris through the 2024 election. Johnson herself had played the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate on “SNL” and had previously retweeted posts on X that read, “I want to see more @Punkiejohnson as Kamala #SNL” and “If Lorne [Michaels] has the foresight, he would give @Punkiejohnson the Kamala Harris role permanently. Maybe have Maya do a one-off where she visits Punkie Kamala in a dream like the 2 Hillarys… and that’s it.”
Johnson joined “Saturday Night Live” as a featured player in 2020 for its 46th season. Ahead of the 48th season in 2022, she was promoted to repertory status. Throughout her time on the series, she appeared in various sketches and “Weekend Update” segments, and showed off her impressions of Queen Latifah, Ice Spice, Angel Reese, Sunny Hostin, Gayle King, Wanda Sykes, Mary J. Blige and more.
Outside of “SNL,” Johnson has appeared in TV series including “Space Force,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Corporate” and “Adam Ruins Everything.”
Source Agencies
