NEW YORK — Heidi Gardner is leaving "Saturday Night Live" after eight seasons, according to multiple reports Thursday, marking the in a significant cast shakeup ahead of the long-running NBC sketch comedy series' 51st season.

Gardner joined "SNL" in 2017 as a featured player and was promoted to the main cast in 2019. She becomes the most high-profile exit ahead of Season 51.

The comedian's departure follows a wave of exits this week. Gardner is the fourth SNL cast member to leave the show in the past three days.

Devon Walker revealed Monday he would be leaving the program after three seasons, Michael Longfellow is exiting the comedy series after three seasons, and Emil Wakim announced he had been let go from the show after just one season, telling followers Tuesday it was "a gut punch o

See Full Page