Chloe Troast on being ready to leave Saturday Night Live: “Some Type of Relief”
Chloe Troast says leaving Saturday Night Live wasn’t as heartbreaking as you’d think — and it all comes down to who stood by her.
On the But Also With Michael and Asher podcast, Chloe Troast said the months after Season 49 left her in limbo — she was kept “on hold” over the summer — while hearing feedback from the Saturday Night Live creative team that made a return feel daunting. When the decision finally came down, she said, the dominant feeling wasn’t shock. It was release.
“And there’s some type of relief in that.”
The 29-year-old didn’t detail what was said to her behind the scenes, but she was frank about how it changed her relationship to the job. As she put it on the podcast,
“I was relieved to know that I wouldn’t then have to walk into a place that I was now deeply scared of.”
Troast described the odd split-screen of that moment: friends and the public had no idea she was out yet, even as writers and cast members reached out privately. She said the support came fast and hasn’t ended — she still performs live shows with SNL folks even after her exit.
Her hunch that she wouldn’t be back grew during the hold period, and the uncertainty around it became its own stress test. Getting the official word, she said, ended the waiting and the dread that came with it.
Season 52 shuffle
Behind the scenes, SNL also reworked parts of its staff ahead of the new season.
- Keri Powers became the sole head of the talent department, overseeing bookings for hosts, musical guests, and guest stars. She joined the show in 2014 after time at Paramount Pictures and CAA, and stepped up after Brian Siedlecki’s departure.
- Rebecca Schwartz, with SNL since 2015, was promoted to producer.
The cast moved around, too, with veteran faces staying put and several big changes elsewhere in the lineup.
- Departures: Chloe Fineman (after seven years), Martin Herlihy, and Bowen Yang.
- Returnees: Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost, Michael Che, and Sarah Sherman.
- Promotions: Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline moved up to the main cast.
- New additions: Grace Reiter (The Chair Company) and filmmaker Saidah Belo-Osagie.
- Not returning: Chloe Troast.
Season 52 premiered September 26, 2026 .