The snl cast is under fresh scrutiny after former cast member Devon Walker reacted to a recent promotional appearance that featured six performers. Walker posted his comments on an Instagram post tied to the appearance and then expanded on the point in a follow-up message shared after a fan account highlighted his remark.
Walker wrote, “lol i forgot everyone on the show is white now 😭, ” then added, “the 90s is back. ” He later said, “no disrespect to the homies, i got a lot of love for them… but there’s a institutional trend at play that is very under-discussed imo. ”
The exchange comes as the snl cast continues to draw attention for who is on screen and who is not. The promotional appearance Walker reacted to featured Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, James Austin Johnson, Ashley Padilla, Jane Wickline, and Sarah Sherman. Walker’s comments immediately turned that clip into a wider conversation about representation and screen time.
Walker Points to an Institutional Trend
Walker’s wording was direct, and the criticism landed because it tied the conversation to the snl cast as a whole rather than to a single sketch or one promotional moment. The former cast member framed the issue as structural, not accidental, saying there is “a institutional trend at play. ”
That argument echoes earlier criticism from former cast member Leslie Jones, who said during an October podcast appearance that she sends suggestions for cast additions “all the time” because, in her view, the show does not get to see enough Black women. Jones also said talent in Black women’s sketch groups often has to be actively searched for rather than easily surfaced.
Screen Time and Cast Changes Keep the Debate Alive
The current snl cast also includes Kenan Thompson, Michael Che, Kam Patterson, and Marcello Hernández, though none of them were part of the promotional shoot Walker singled out. The season’s screen-time balance has become part of the discussion as well, with Hernández and Thompson ranking seventh and eighth out of 17 players in total screen time, while Che ranks 11th and Patterson last.
Walker announced his departure before the current season began. Days later, Emil Wakim also said he would not return, and Ego Nwodim later announced that she would not be back for Season 51. Those exits added to the attention around the snl cast and the show’s representation choices.
What the Broader Backdrop Shows
The context around the snl cast has only sharpened the reaction. After Nwodim’s exit, three Black women reached the in-studio audition phase for Season 51, but none were selected, leaving the show without a Black female cast member.
Bowen Yang’s mid-season departure further reduced the snl cast’s diversity, keeping the issue in focus as the season continues. For now, Walker’s comments have pushed an old debate back into the spotlight, and the snl cast will likely remain part of that conversation as new episodes and casting decisions come into view.
