Emil Wakim has become the latest cast member to leave Saturday Night Live, joining Devon Walker in a wave of recent departures before the new season.
The departures from Saturday Night Live continue, as comedian Emil Wakim has announced he is leaving the NBC sketch series ahead of its upcoming Season 51.
Wakim, who first joined the cast prior to the landmark 50th season, confirmed his exit on Instagram, becoming the latest to depart following Devon Walker, who revealed his departure earlier this week. Wakim had been added to the ensemble alongside Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline last year.
During Season 50, Wakim recorded the third-lowest screen time among the cast, just ahead of Wickline and Walker. Still, the Lebanese-American comedian’s journey to SNL was notable. He made his late-night television debut in 2022 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which is executive produced by SNL creator and producer Lorne Michaels. That same year, he was recognized as a New Face of Comedy at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival and went on to open for Roy Wood Jr., Nikki Glaser, and Hasan Minhaj.
In his farewell message, Wakim shared a mix of humor and gratitude, recalling the moment he learned of his departure. “I won’t be returning to SNL next year. It was a gut punch of a call to get but I’m so grateful for my time there,” he wrote. He revealed that he was at Six Flags celebrating a friend’s birthday when he got the news, describing an emotional walk through “bugs bunny park” as he reflected on his journey.
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He continued, “Every time I scanned into the building I would think how insane it is to get to work there. It was the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience of my life and I will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home. thank u to lorne for taking a chance on me and changing my life.”
Wakim added that he was proud to have brought his perspective to the show and looked forward to the next phase of his career: “I was so lucky to bring some of myself in there and say things I believed in and I’m excited for whatever chapter comes next. here’s to making more art without compromise.”
Wakim is represented by UTA and Strig Artist Management.
His exit marks another shakeup in the SNL cast as the show prepares for its next season.
