‘Saturday Night Live’: Why is Leslie Jones Leaving the Show?
It’s a sad day for Saturday Night Live fans. Leslie Jones will not be returning to the show. Unfortunately, Jones has decided to leave the sketch show less than a month before the new season begins.
When did Jones join ‘Saturday Night Live’?
Jones has been a part of SNL for years and has become a fan favorite. She first joined the show in 2014 in one of the Weekend Update segments. In the fall of that year, she was given the opportunity to be a full-time cast member. She was 47 at the time, which made her the oldest new member of the cast.
Since joining SNL, she was nominated for a Supporting Actress Emmy in both 2017 and 2018. This year, she was nominated for an Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Emmy for “The Upper East Side.”
Why is Jones leaving ‘SNL’?
Throughout her tenure with SNL, Jones has become beloved by fans and landed several other jobs, including a role in Ghostbusters, from her SNL fame. So why leave such a good gig?
Reportedly, Jones wants to focus on other things. She has several projects in the works, including starring in the upcoming drama I Am Maurice alongside Chris Rock, and the film Queenpins with Kristen Bell. The comedian is also currently filming Coming 2 America, the sequel to Coming to America.
In addition to those projects, Jones has signed on to executive produce the upcoming reboot of Supermarket Sweep, which was a game show that ran from 1965-1967 where contestants were given a certain amount of time to run around a store and fill up their shopping carts.
She is also set to film a comedy special for Netflix.
Clearly, Jones is a busy woman.
Fan reactions to Jones’ exit
Fans have been sad to see Jones go, but ultimately respect her decision.
“Leslie Jones must be one of the most mistreated members from SNL and I’ll admire her forever for being such a force despite all the hate she received. She is funny as hell and should do more things,” one fan tweeted.
“Will miss Ms. Jones, she is one of my favorites,” another fan said. “Good luck!”
“Bummed at reports that Leslie Jones is leaving ‘SNL’,” another person commented. “In every way an exceptional cast member: one of the show’s oldest ever and one of its most electric.”
“I adore her,” another person said. “I wish her the best and hope to see a lot more of her. I could watch her and Seth Myers do play-by-play of movies and TV shows all day long. The ‘Naked and Afraid’ skit on ‘SNL’ with Peter Dinklage is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.”
“Love her,” another user commented. I can only hope this means she will be doing something she is excited about and I’ll get to see it.
“Kinda have to give it up for Leslie Jones doing the more old-school five-year stint on ‘SNL’ (seemingly by choice),” someone else said. “I’ll miss her presence on the show, especially her Weekend Update stuff, but not everyone needs to do these crazy 8-season runs.”
