On the heels of the news that Punkie Johnson won’t be returning to Saturday Night Live for the show’s 50th season, fellow cast member Molly Kearney has announced their departure from the show as well. Kearney, who joined prior to season 48 as a featured player, confirmed the news in an August 2 Instagram post: “Yall that’s a wrap on my time on SNL! Reflecting on the amazing 2 seasons I got on this show, it was such a dream come true. So incredibly grateful for this period in my life.â€
When Kearney was hired in 2022, the news was met with celebration, as they became the first nonbinary cast member in SNL’s history. They got the opportunity to speak from this perspective on the show on a few occasions, most prominently in a 2023 “Weekend Update†piece about the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in America. With SNL’s 50th season around the corner, it seems likely the show will be casting to replace its two departed cast members soon.