Heidi Gardner is exiting SNL

Heidi Gardner is leaving Saturday Night Live.

She joined the show in Season 43 as a featured player and was promoted to the main cast in 2019.

Gardner's departure marks the most significant exit ahead of Season 51, following the departures of other notable cast members like Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow.

Gardner’s departure comes after she indicated such a move earlier this year. She acknowledged that things have become “a little tough.” In a conversation with comedian Craig Ferguson, who previously hosted The Late Late Show, on his podcast Joy, she shared, “I will say the only thing that I’ve started to feel a little bit is just sketch fatigue, or idea fatigue,” she noted. “At this point, after doing Groundlings and SNL for so long, I’m like, ‘I’ve written a lot of sketches.’”

The star of Shrinking, who was in discussions to lead an NBC pilot, fueled speculation on social media earlier this year by revealing that the cast and several writers had attended a "retreat" in Tarrytown, located in Westchester County near Sleepy Hollow, prior to the season finale.

“My heart is so full being with this vibrant family of mine. The things we do remind me of the fun of the past. The things we experience together keep me present, and watching each person be their authentic self makes me so hopeful for the future,” she shared on Instagram.

She gained widespread attention last year during a Beavis and Butt-Head sketch when she broke character while portraying NewsNation host Bobbi More. Additionally, she is recognized for her roles as Angel (Every Boxer’s Girlfriend from Every Movie About Boxing Ever), teen film critic Bailey Gismert, and Crystal (Your Co-Worker Who is Extremely Busy Doing Seemingly Nothing).