SNL News Season Cast News: Kenan Thompson Not Leaving Saturday Night Live, Say Reps
A "Saturday Night Live" representative denied rumors that "SNL" veteran cast member Kenan Thompson was leaving the show following its upcoming season.
The "SNL" rep issued a statement to Entertainment Weekly on Monday claiming that reports regarding Thompson's departure are "inaccurate as the season hasn't even started and cast decisions aren't made until the end of the season."
TMZ was the first media outlet to report on Thompson's alleged "SNL" exit earlier on Monday.
"Saturday Night Live" is about to lose it's most seasoned performer ... Kenan Thompson will be leaving the show after this season ... TMZ has learned," the TMZ story reads. "Sources connected to SNL tell us ... Thompson -- the most tenured African-American cast member in the show's history -- planned to leave last season, but decided to stay after head honcho Lorne Michaels asked him to stay on ... citing the show's massive turnover this season."
The TMZ report then continues to claim that Thompson's alleged exit was amicable and that the actor/comedian will go on to appear in a new show and move to L.A. with his wife and child.
So far, Thompson has not responded to the TMZ rumor.
Though Thompson is confirmed to be returning to the live comedy sketch show, many newcomers will be making their debut in the show's upcoming season.
Last week, "Guy Code's" Pete Davidson was announced as the new season's youngest cast member.
A week prior to the Davidson announcement, "The Daily Show's" Michael Che was announced as the newest co-anchor to appear alongside Colin Host for "SNL's Weekend Update" segment.
"This is about a new era, what feels appropriate for now," "SNL" executive producer Lorne Michaels told the New York Times about the changes made in "SNL's" upcoming season. " That's why we did a lot of combinations and tests, and this is kind of where we came out."
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