Leslie Jones is certainly one name that you have heard of before, particularly if you're a fan of none other than 'Saturday Night Live'. The comedian first joined the NBC show back in 2014 as a writer, before finally making her way up to a featured player in the show's 40th season. It goes without saying that Leslie has proven herself to be quite the addition to the 'SNL' family, which made her 2019 departure a sad one!
Rumors began floating around the Leslie Jones would be stepping down from the show in the summer of 2019. Come August and Leslie confirmed the rumors on her social media. After posting a huge thank you to the cast, crew, and of course the show's creator, Lorne Michaels. Despite her lovely message, fans were still confused as to why Jones was leaving the show for good, and this is the reason why!
Why Leslie Jones Left 'SNL'
If you are a fan of 'Saturday Night Live' then it goes without saying that you are definitely a fan of none other than Leslie Jones! The comedian first joined the cast back in October 2014. While she started her 'SNL' career out as a writer, she soon became a featured player, appearing in countless comedy skits, including 'Weekend Update', and her many on-screen impressions. Leslie remained on board for 5 years, instantly becoming a fan favorite, and rightfully so. Despite being at the height of her career, Leslie Jones announced in August 2019 that she would officially be leaving the show.
While rumors circulated regarding her potential departure began months before Jones' confirmation, fans were still gutted when she revealed them to be true. Jones took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message to the 'SNL' cast, crew, and of course, the fans. "I cannot thank NBC, the producers, writers, and amazing crew enough for making 'SNL' my second home these last five years", Jones said. "To the incredible cast members: I will miss working, creating, and laughing with you", she wrote. Well, if things were going so well, why did she leave?
Although Leslie never revealed the reason or reasons behind her 'SNL' departure, her busy work schedule definitely played a role in her decision. The actress has reserved a lot of her time for films, particularly after the success of her movie, 'Ghostbusters'. Jones is now expected to appear in Eddie Murphy's, 'Coming To America 2', proving that her schedule just isn't as flexible as it once was. Additionally, Leslie was selected as the new host of the 'Supermarket Sweep' reboot on ABC, which premiered back in October.
While fans miss her terribly from the hit NBC show, it goes without saying that Leslie did the right thing. From her Netflix stand-up special, 'Leslie Jones: Time Machine', to her endless list of films to come, Leslie may have left 'SNL', but she won't be going anywhere anytime soon!