‘SNL’ Has Had Only 8 Black Women as Cast Members in 50 Years — Is It Really Going to Launch a New Season Without Them?
Please, “SNL,” don’t forget about Black women… again.
On Friday, Ego Nwodim announced she would be leaving “Saturday Night Live” after seven seasons, and with her exit comes a familiar, unsettling truth: It’s looking like the show will head into its 51st season on Oct. 4 without a single Black woman in its cast, unless someone is added the last minute. And now, perhaps, they will be motivated to do just that.
Nwodim, who joined “SNL” in 2018 as a featured player and was promoted to the repertory cast in 2020, revealed she was leaving in an Instagram story. “The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight,” she wrote. “But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL. I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship. Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories (and that laughter) with me always.”
Her decision appears to be her own, though it leaves the NBC sketch series facing renewed scrutiny for its decades-long struggle with representation, especially for Black women.
Since its 1975 debut, there have been 172 cast members on “Saturday Night Live.” Of those, only eight have been Black women:
The show’s hosting history paints a similar picture. Between Seasons 1 and 28, only two Black women hosted the show: Cicely Tyson in Season 4 and Oprah Winfrey in Season 11. Then came a staggering 17-year gap until Queen Latifah returned in Season 28 and again in Season 30.
Since then, the list has grown but with large gaps in-between: Halle Berry (Season 29), Janet Jackson (Season 29), Rosario Dawson (Season 34), Gabourey Sidibe (Season 35), Maya Rudolph (Seasons 37, 46, 49), Kerry Washington (Season 39), Taraji P. Henson (Season 40), Octavia Spencer (Season 42), Tiffany Haddish (Season 43), Issa Rae (Season 46), Regina King (Season 46), Ariana DeBose (Season 47), Zoe Kravitz (Season 47), Lizzo (Season 47), Megan Thee Stallion (Season 48), Keke Palmer (Season 48), Quinta Brunson (Seasons 48, 50) and Ayo Edebiri (Season 49).
Of the 20 hosts during the show’s historic 50th season, Brunson was the only Black woman called upon to emcee.
Rudolph, who has been both a former cast member and a host, made history with “SNL.” In addition to hosting the most of any Black woman in history, in 2021, Rudolph became the first person in 20 years to win consecutive Emmys in the same category — twice: once for her voice role on “Big Mouth” and again for her guest appearances on “SNL.” She also became just the third Black woman ever to win back-to-back Emmys.
Meanwhile, Zamata later explained that she had long questioned whether “SNL” was the right fit, as evidenced by a 2017 exit interview. Jones, after becoming a fan favorite, also left on her own terms.
Nwodim now follows a similar pattern: a voluntary exit, one that highlights the joy of the experience but leaves behind an uncomfortable void. The numbers speak for themselves. Black women have been largely forgotten in “SNL’s” ongoing narrative. Each casting feels like an exception rather than a norm, with every breakthrough followed by silence or backsliding.
Unless Lorne Michaels surprises audiences with an 11th-hour announcement — which rarely happens — Season 51 will be the first in years to launch with no Black women in the cast. The last time this issue arose, it took five years to resolve.
“Saturday Night Live” has undoubtedly proven it can nurture Black men into superstardom (Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, etc.) and has given a platform to dozens of white women who have become household names.
Still, its treatment of Black women remains a blind spot, bordering on institutional erasure. But we can’t let Nwodim walk out without pointing out some of her most memorable characters, such as Lisa from Temecula and giving us the best Pedro Pascal hosting episode we can remember. Your service has been noticed, Queen.
On Friday, Ego Nwodim announced she would be leaving “Saturday Night Live” after seven seasons, and with her exit comes a familiar, unsettling truth: It’s looking like the show will head into its 51st season on Oct. 4 without a single Black woman in its cast, unless someone is added the last minute. And now, perhaps, they will be motivated to do just that.
Nwodim, who joined “SNL” in 2018 as a featured player and was promoted to the repertory cast in 2020, revealed she was leaving in an Instagram story. “The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight,” she wrote. “But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL. I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship. Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories (and that laughter) with me always.”
Her decision appears to be her own, though it leaves the NBC sketch series facing renewed scrutiny for its decades-long struggle with representation, especially for Black women.
Since its 1975 debut, there have been 172 cast members on “Saturday Night Live.” Of those, only eight have been Black women:
The show’s hosting history paints a similar picture. Between Seasons 1 and 28, only two Black women hosted the show: Cicely Tyson in Season 4 and Oprah Winfrey in Season 11. Then came a staggering 17-year gap until Queen Latifah returned in Season 28 and again in Season 30.
Since then, the list has grown but with large gaps in-between: Halle Berry (Season 29), Janet Jackson (Season 29), Rosario Dawson (Season 34), Gabourey Sidibe (Season 35), Maya Rudolph (Seasons 37, 46, 49), Kerry Washington (Season 39), Taraji P. Henson (Season 40), Octavia Spencer (Season 42), Tiffany Haddish (Season 43), Issa Rae (Season 46), Regina King (Season 46), Ariana DeBose (Season 47), Zoe Kravitz (Season 47), Lizzo (Season 47), Megan Thee Stallion (Season 48), Keke Palmer (Season 48), Quinta Brunson (Seasons 48, 50) and Ayo Edebiri (Season 49).
Of the 20 hosts during the show’s historic 50th season, Brunson was the only Black woman called upon to emcee.
Rudolph, who has been both a former cast member and a host, made history with “SNL.” In addition to hosting the most of any Black woman in history, in 2021, Rudolph became the first person in 20 years to win consecutive Emmys in the same category — twice: once for her voice role on “Big Mouth” and again for her guest appearances on “SNL.” She also became just the third Black woman ever to win back-to-back Emmys.
Meanwhile, Zamata later explained that she had long questioned whether “SNL” was the right fit, as evidenced by a 2017 exit interview. Jones, after becoming a fan favorite, also left on her own terms.
Nwodim now follows a similar pattern: a voluntary exit, one that highlights the joy of the experience but leaves behind an uncomfortable void. The numbers speak for themselves. Black women have been largely forgotten in “SNL’s” ongoing narrative. Each casting feels like an exception rather than a norm, with every breakthrough followed by silence or backsliding.
Unless Lorne Michaels surprises audiences with an 11th-hour announcement — which rarely happens — Season 51 will be the first in years to launch with no Black women in the cast. The last time this issue arose, it took five years to resolve.
“Saturday Night Live” has undoubtedly proven it can nurture Black men into superstardom (Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, etc.) and has given a platform to dozens of white women who have become household names.
Still, its treatment of Black women remains a blind spot, bordering on institutional erasure. But we can’t let Nwodim walk out without pointing out some of her most memorable characters, such as Lisa from Temecula and giving us the best Pedro Pascal hosting episode we can remember. Your service has been noticed, Queen.