(NewsNation) — Devon Walker has opened up about being fired from “Saturday Night Live” and comments he made about the “toxic” nature of the show.
In an interview with Variety, Walker was asked if the show had to remain “toxic” for it to still be “SNL.”
“If you read about the show, if you’re knowledgeable about it at all, you can certainly pick up on things that are toxic about it,” he said, adding that the show hasn’t changed a lot in the 50 years it’s been on the air.
“There are things that went down on the show that I wouldn’t talk about for free. There are a lot of things I’m still trying to find the right avenue to go into detail about.”
Devon Walker reveals he’s leaving ‘SNL’
The comedian announced on Instagram on Aug. 25. that he wouldn’t be returning, saying, “Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool,” Walker wrote. “Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we did what we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f—-d up lil family.”
Walker told Variety that the show could benefit from having some “humanity” by leaving the cast in limbo during the summer break if they have a job or not.
Devon Walker, left, and Ego Nwodim during a “Life Insurance” sketch on “Saturday Night Live” on May 3, 2025. (Photo by: Leanne Diaz/NBC via Getty Images) 
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Season 49 Cast Shot — Pictured: (top row l-r) Andrew Dismukes, Punkie Johnson, James Austin Johnson, Marcello Hernandez, Ego Nwodim, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Mikey Day, Molly Kearney, Chloe Troast, Devon Walker; (bottom row l-r) Heidi Gardner, Bowen Yang, Chloe Fineman, Sarah Sherman, Michael Longfellow, Kenan Thompson — (Photo by: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC via Getty Images) 
FILE – Lorne Michaels attends the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
“What ends up happening over the summer is oftentimes people are left hanging with big life decisions — people trying to start families or buy homes — and there’s no word from the show about whether they have their job,” he said. “The show won’t tell them all summer and then will ultimately end up firing them when there’s been months of them trying to work their situation out.”
Walker appreciates the outpouring of support from fans, saying that it “means I made something that meant something to you, which is what’s most important to me.”
He added that while he understands people being sad, they shouldn’t be, because he’s still planning to work.
“The show is, by its nature, a temporary job. The show is made to be left. I left it, but I’m not going anywhere.”
“Saturday Night Live’s” creator Lorne Michaels confirmed with Puck earlier this month there would be cast changes ahead of the show’s new season in October.
Last season marked 50 years that the show had been on the air, with NBC airing an “SNL50” anniversary special that saw a slew of celebrities who’ve hosted the show and the return of old favorites.
Michaels said that because season 50 was so monumental, no casting changes were announced during that time.