Aidy Bryant Reveals Why She Left Saturday Night Live After a Decade
In a new interview, Saturday Night Live veteran Aidy Bryant is opening up about her decision to step away after a 10-season run — and what stopped her from leaving NBC‘s venerable sketch series even sooner.
“If it weren’t for COVID, I probably would have left a few years earlier,” Bryant tells our sister pub Variety. “But it was such a huge change. When COVID hit [during Season 45], it was so jarring that we were all like, ‘I’m definitely going to come back next year.'” And after missing half of Season 46 to shoot the third and final season of her Hulu comedy Shrill, Bryant decided to return for Season 47.
“I kept trying to seek one last normal year,” she explains. “This year wasn’t the normal [COVID-free] year that I hoped for, but it was closer to that…. And 10 felt like a nice, solid round number.”
Remarking on her final sketch, the recurring Weekend Update segment “Trendsetters” opposite Bowen Yang, Bryant admits: “I was worried I was going to… crack wide open and fully be crying. It felt very joyful, and I felt incredibly fortified by having Bowen and [Michael] Che next to me because they know me and know how considered this was for me to go.”
Bryant, along with Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon and Kyle Mooney, all were rumored to exit SNL in the lead-up to the May 21 finale. Davidson confirmed his departure in a statement ahead of air, writing in part: “I owe Lorne Michaels and everyone at SNL my life. I’m so grateful and I wouldn’t be here without them.” He went on to appear one last time at the Update desk, while McKinnon and Mooney were sent off via a “Final Encounter” and a commercial for “Grey Adult Pigtails.”
Will you miss Lil’ Baby Aidy on Saturday Night Live?
Yes! I don’t think she’s funny
When I think of Aida Bryant, I don’t think of a person anywhere near funny. I do think of someone whose self opinion of her talent is far too great and who will be a third banana on a sitcom in three year
I don’t know who Aida Bryant is but Aidy Bryant is hilarious.
I’m curious to hear who you find funny. Probably Greg Gutfeld or Joe Rogan.
I really wish we could just stop with negativity. Does it make you feel good to say hurtful things?
That was in response to Ava….
Pretty sure Aidy is the only person who can decide if this comment is hurtful or not. She’s a comedienne, so I suspect her skin is thick enough to handle criticism…a trait we could all learn from, don’t you think?
Yes. Instead of addressing all of the ugliness, the constant barrage of needlessly ignorant comment constantly flung like poo at any and every person, let’s suck it up and ignore it.
Your comment was both sanctimonious and utterly clueless. Sad.
Wow. You are unnecessarily mean. The fact you really felt the need to say such a nasty thing about Aidy says way more about you then it does about her. And most people think she’s hilarious. She also starred in a hit show on Hulu. And was the main character.
Do you not see the irony of your response? If you don’t, maybe re-read it a few times. Unless you were actually going for “necessarily mean”?
What’s that saying…”be the change you wish to see in the world”? Be better. You don’t have to clap back at everything.
And FWIW, Aidy Bryant doesn’t care what rando commenters on TV Line say about her.
She’s been the lead of a show for 3 years that she developed and co-wrote the pilot. Hulu ordered it straight-to-series. She’ll be just fine while you’ll still be writing incredibly ignorant comments while hiding behind anonymity.
Kyle Mooney deserved better!
Kyle Mooney already got way better than he deserved. Far and away the least funny cast member SNL has ever had, at least for the style of humour that SNL is. Best of luck to him creating his own show for people who like his style, but it didn’t belong on SNL
I think she’s delightful. I’m excited to see what she does next.
Wouldn’t miss the show if it disappeared entirely. SNL has not been funny for decades.
So you have been watching it for decades even when considering it unfunny?
NBC and its advertisers thank you for watching a show you do not like.
I, too, don’t find the humor. It’s not the politics perhaps its mr age but there are still some comics who are truly funny. Such as Bill Maher. Even if you disagree with his politics you can still enjoy humor. I just haven’t found hardly anything being done in SNL funny in years.
This didn’t really answer why she left, rather when she decided to leave and what postponed that decision.
Going to miss her but loved her in Shrill. Looking forward to see what she does next!!
They all had their great moments but it’s time to move on. The newer cast members deserve their time to show what they can do.
You ever notice that when people say “SNL hasn’t been funny in decades” and you ask when is the last time they actually sat and watched an entire episode. They always say “oh back when chris farley was on.. he was so funny” or “Back when will ferrell was on” etc etc…every season, since the very first has always had sketches that didn’t work and sketches that were hilarious. I dont think its fair to say SNL hasn’t been funny in years. It is always funny.. not every sketch is funny but the show itself is.
First saw her when she was on my son’s college improv team and she stole every scene she was in. Only hope her future is even brighter now.
I originally watched SNL in the “old days” with Dan Ackroyd and Jane Curtin in “Point – Counterpoint, ” Gilda Radner as .Roseanne Roseannadanna , and “Mr. Bill.”
Then I didn’t watch for many years and started about a year ago because I enjoy it. But I think it could be cut to one hour and then they wouldn’t have to fill up the time with some of the skits that, in my opinion, aren’t that funny.
I agree with Vb haliweill’s comment that Aidy did not explain why she left, only why she stayed longer than she planned to.
I really didn’t consider her one of the funny members of the cast. Didn’t seem to be a natural seem a little forced. The way she’d often break character on Is purpose, imitating past cast members.