- The comedian, 37, has spoken out to address the dramatic cast overhaul
- It comes after the sketch show was hit by a spate of exits earlier this month
- READ MORE: Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang breaks his silence
Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman has expressed her shock following the show’s mass cast oustings, admitting that she still ‘hasn’t processed’ the firings.
Earlier this month, the sketch show was hit by a spate of exits with Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim scrapped just weeks before the season 51 launch.
Addressing the dramatic shake-up, Chloe, 37, said the departures were ‘wild’ and ‘shocking.’
‘A little heartbreak, sadness,’ she said. ‘I haven’t fully processed anything, but I will say the show has such a turnover.’
Speaking to Extra TV, she continued: ‘I’m going into my seventh year. I’ve like, done it. You always experience [turnover], but these people stay in your lives.’
Heidi, 42, did not have her contract renewed at the start of the month.
She joined Saturday Night Live in 2017 during season 43 as a featured player along with now-former SNL stars Luke Null and Chris Redd.
She was then promoted to the main cast two years later.
SNL star Chloe Fineman has addressed the show’s bloodbath ahead of season 51
The show has been hit with a spate of cast exits in recent weeks, which Chloe described as ‘shocking’
Since then, the Missouri-born actress has written and starred in countless iconic SNL sketches.
Heidi is best known for creating the hilarious character Bailey Gismert, a teen movie critic, who often appeared during SNL’s Weekend Update segments.
It was also confirmed by Daily Mail that SNL cast member Michael was leaving the hit show after just three seasons.
The 31-year-old had joined the series in season 48 as a ‘featured player’ and, like Heidi, was known for his Weekend Update segments.
Meanwhile, Emil, 27, announced his departure in an Instagram post with photos of happier times at Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
His unexpected departure came just a day after his costar Devon revealed he was leaving the show after three seasons.
Meanwhile, writer John Higgins announced he was leaving.
Their exits came in the wake of series creator and longtime showrunner Lorne Michaels’ announcement that there would be a ‘significant shake-up’ amid the cast ahead of season 51.
In a new interview, she added: ‘I haven’t fully processed anything, but I will say the show has such a turnover’
When asked whether he felt ‘pressure to reinvent this season’, Lorne said: ‘Yeah, for sure. It’ll be announced in a week or so.’
Despite culling five fan-favorite members, SNL bosses recently announced the addition of five new cast members.
Chloe shared her excitement over the new members and quipped: ‘It’s so many people.
‘When I saw how young the new cast is I immediately got a laser. I felt like I was in Death Becomes Her.’
SNL Season 51 will premiere on Saturday, October 4, at 11:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, after the summer hiatus since May 17.