Texas Comedian Quits SNL, Calls the Workplace ‘Toxic as Hell’
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After three seasons on the legendary NBC sketch show ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Texas comedian Devon Walker has decided to quit. He announced his exit this week on Instagram, which quickly caught attention. It isn’t because he’s leaving, but because of what he had to say about the workplace.
In his Instagram post, Walker admitted that some moments at SNL were “really cool,” but the overall experience wasn’t according to his expectations. He straight-up called the SNL’s work environment “toxic as hell” and said he left no stone unturned to power through “all of the dysfunction.”
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Walker joined the 48th season of SNL in 2022 as a featured cast member. He was promoted to the main lineup in 2024. His announcement of quitting SNL came right after the show wrapped its 50th season.
Fans can find the full statement of Devon Walker on the 3rd slide of his Instagram post. In the post, there is a screenshot with the title “wait..did he quit or did he get fired?” Walker said working in the SNL business feels like being in “a bunch of little marriages.” He described his experience at SNL as being part of a “messed-up little family.”
This isn’t the first time Saturday Night Live has faced complaints about its alleged backstage culture. In her 2023 book Burn It Down, author Maureen Ryan wrote that the show had a toxic environment.
Walker is not taking a break. He joked that he is going to Japan first, and when he’s back, he will hopefully have a serious acting role, “ideally something with Julianne Moore.”
It looks like Devon Walker is ready to trade late-night sketches for something bigger.
