Chloe Fineman, a member of the “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) cast, has announced her departure from the show after seven seasons. The announcement was made on Instagram ahead of the upcoming 52nd season set to air this fall.
Fineman’s exit comes after a major cast shakeup during the 50th season in 2025, which saw the departure of Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Ego Nwodim, and Emil Wakim. They were replaced for the 51st season by Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Ben Marshall from “Please Don’t Destroy,” and Veronika Slowikowska.
The 51st season did not witness any significant cast departures until Bowen Yang left midway through the season in December 2025. In her Instagram post, Fineman expressed mixed emotions about leaving SNL, stating that although it is difficult, she feels it is the right time. She mentioned that the people at SNL are like family to her, and the place holds a special significance in her heart.
Fineman joined SNL in 2019 alongside Bowen Yang and Shane Gillis, who was swiftly dismissed shortly after. The cast of the show has been transitioning towards having more long-serving members, with this year’s cast featuring six members who have been part of SNL for six or more seasons.
In addition to Fineman, some long-serving cast members include Kenan Thompson with a record-breaking 23 seasons, Colin Jost with 13 seasons, Michael Che with 12 seasons, Mikey Day with 10 seasons, and Andrew Dismukes with six seasons. Fineman now holds the title of the longest-tenured female cast member on SNL after the departures of Gardner and Nwodim.
The departures of Walker, Wakim, and Longfellow seemed to suggest that their exits may not have been entirely by choice. Walker compared entertainment work to marriages, Longfellow expressed disappointment at not returning for another season, and Wakim shared his emotional reaction upon learning he would not be returning to the show.
During her time on SNL, Fineman garnered praise for her impressions of various personalities such as Melania Trump, Timothée Chalamet, Britney Spears, and Drew Barrymore, as well as her viral social media videos impersonating the Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun. In addition to her comedic talents, Fineman has established herself as an actor, appearing in films alongside A-list actors like Adam Driver and in upcoming projects like “Love Language” and “The Dink” featuring an ensemble cast.
Overall, Fineman’s departure marks a significant change in the SNL cast lineup, signaling a new chapter for the long-running comedy show.