"It's no bad blood"— Punkie Johnson reveals she will not be returning to SNL next season

Jessica Williams, aka Punkie Johnson, has revealed that she's exiting as a regular cast member of Saturday Night Live ahead of the iconic sketch show's season 50.

The comedian announced her SNL departure in a video posted on Instagram on Thursday, August 1, where she addressed her fans, saying:

"I just want to let you know [that] after four seasons, I will not be returning to SNL for the 50th."

She also revealed how her SNL cast mates learned of her decision not to return to the sketch show, adding:

"So, last night, I had a Punkie and Friends show, and since it was some SNL cast and writers at the show, I opened up the floor for questions."

Punkie Johnson recalled that an audience member asked her at the time about what she is most "looking forward to" in SNL's 50th season, and she didn't want to lie in front of her friends and castmates, so she honestly answered:

"Oh, I ain't coming back."

SNL season 50 is scheduled to start on September 28, airing live on NBC. Cast members for the upcoming season haven't been confirmed, but Maya Rudolph is confirmed to return to portray Vice President Kamala Harris on the show.

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Punkie Johnson assured fans that there is no "bad blood" amid news that she's leaving SNL

After dropping the news onstage, Punkie Johnson revealed that she woke up the next morning with a lot of texts, phone calls, and tags on social media asking what was going on and why she was exiting SNL. Addressing the questions, she said:

"It was a comedy show, I was just having fun. There is no bad blood, there is no hard feelings."

The comedian also added that she didn't think that her comments were ever going to be a big deal, and jokingly said that it is exactly why Dave Chappelle makes people lock their phones.

Punkie Johnson went on to share some appreciation about working at SNL, saying:

"SNL was a dream I didn't even know that I could achieve. Man, I was a part of one of the most elite institutions in comedy, and I am so grateful for it."

While she won't be in the show in September, the comedian noted that the SNL family are still her "people" and she loves them. She also added that she will be at the SNL after parties "acting a plum fool," but it's just that her time in the show has come to an end.

In the caption, Johnson shared love for the sketch show and said that she's "looking forward to what's next!!! Punkie Out!!!!"

Punkie Johnson was a featured player in SNL in 2020, and two years later, she joined the gang as a regular cast member, becoming the second openly queer Black woman to become a regular SNL cast.