Heidi Gardner, others make shocking ‘SNL’ exit

Major players from Saturday Night Live are leaving the iconic show, including Heidi Gardner after 8 seasons, according to sources.

Also leaving the sketch series are Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Devon Walker, just ahead of season 51.

Before her exit, Gardner was the longest-tenured female member of the cast, having appeared in the most amount of sketches in season 49.

Walker announced his departure on Instagram, writing, “Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we did what we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a fucked up lil family.”

Wakim admitted to being fired as well, explaining, “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. 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.”

SNL will be making a return on NBC on October 4, officially premiering season 51.

Fans of the series were taken aback by the departures, with some wondering if certain cast members were removed due to them speaking out about world politics. 

RELATED: Emil Wakim announced his exit from SNL after 1 season