Celeste Yim announced Sunday that they are leaving Saturday Night Live after five seasons on the writing staff.
The Korean-Canadian writer joined the show in 2020 and was promoted to writing supervisor in 2023. Yim quickly became one of the show’s most prolific contributors, often landing two or more sketches on air each week.
Yim wrote on Instagram, “After five seasons, I’m leaving my job at Saturday Night Live. Lorne hired me over the phone when I was 23 and the job literally made all of my dreams come true … I loved it and I laughed every day and it’s where I grew up.”
They noted, “I was the first-ever out trans person to be a writer for SNL. I always felt honored to be working within the long tradition of queer writing at the show. Many don’t know this but Chevy is non-binary!”
Yim’s farewell post offered thanks to family, friends, crew, and fellow writers, singling out SNL cast member (and frequent collaborator) Bowen Yang: “Thank you Bowen for changing my life and for making me feel normal.”
They closed with a reflection on their younger self: “As a kid, I was addicted to SNL and to SNL writers… I try to imagine my younger self learning about me. I would be amazed. But then I’d be like… Wait, why are you dressed like that…”
Yim’s SNL colleagues were quick to respond to their post Sunday night, with Andrew Dismukes writing “one of the greats,” and Aidy Bryant writing “love you @celesteyim.”
Yim is the show’s first confirmed departure ahead of Season 51, but if we’re to take Lorne Michaels at his word, they won’t be the last. In an interview with Puck’s Matt Belloni late last week, Michaels said he feels pressure to reinvent this season, with Belloni reporting that multiple cast members are expected to depart.
SNL‘s 51st season kicks off Saturday, October 4.
