On Monday, Saturday Night Live announced several of the hosts and musical guests who will be appearing during the upcoming 45th season. Today, we've learned of at least one cast member who will not be returning: Upper East Side lover Leslie Jones, who has become one of the most delightful members of the current cast.
The Hollywood Reporter says Jones wants to "focus on her upcoming feature film projects and Netflix comedy special." Deadline adds that it was "Jones’ decision to depart SNL before the end of her contract."
On the plus side, both outlets confirmed that Kate McKinnon will return to the show this year for her eighth season. EW adds that Kenan Thompson, the longest tenured-member of the cast, is also returning, despite having a new NBC sitcom. It's unclear if anyone else from the current cast is leaving as well, but Deadline claims Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong will also be returning.
Jones joined the show as a writer in the winter of 2013, after SNL was criticized for a lack of diversity and held secret auditions looking specifically for female black comedians. She made her first breakout appearance on Weekend Update later in the spring of 2014. By the next fall, she was promoted to feature player; at the age of 47, she became the oldest person to join the show as a cast member. She was nominated for a Supporting Actress Emmy in 2017 and 2018, and received a third nomination this year for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for "The UES" sketch (watch above).
Jones is currently filming the Coming To America sequel; she will also star with Chris Rock in the upcoming indie boxing drama I Am Maurice, and with Kristen Bell in the indie film Queenpins. Her Netflix comedy special is expected to be released in 2020.
Checkout a couple classic Jones sketches:
