Leslie Jones quits SNL after 5 successful seasons, upsets fans

Leslie+Jones+has+led+a+rewarding+career.+With+roles+in+various+movies+and+Emmy+nominations%2C+Jones+is+ready+to+take+on+the+world+post-SNL.

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Leslie Jones has led a rewarding career. With roles in various movies and Emmy nominations, Jones is ready to take on the world post-SNL.

Shea Hildebrand
Timeline of Leslie Jones career since 2010.

After five years as a series regular, Leslie Jones announced that she will not be returning for season 45 of Saturday Night Live, leaving fans conflicted on how to react.

In the five years that Jones worked on SNL, she has gone from being a writer for the show where she would make short appearances every once in a while on the famous sketch, “Weekend Update.” Jones’ appearances on the regular comedy sketch, captivated the audience and she instantly became a fan favorite. Shortly after, she became an official cast member doing over a dozen live sketches a week.

During her time on SNL, Jones also landed a role in the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters with fellow SNL cast member, Kate McKinnon and SNL alum Kristen Wiig. She was also nominated for a supporting actress Emmy in a comedy series in both 2017 and 2018 for her work on SNL. 

With all the love Jones has acquired from her many popular sketches, Jones’ departure from the show has come as a shock. However, this does not mean that fans should be upset over her decision to leave. Instead, Jones’ decision to pursue other projects should be celebrated.

She announced that she is now working on other exciting projects. She will be headlining a new Netflix special coming in 2020 and will be starring in movies like I Am Maurice alongside Chris Rock, and Queenpins with Kristen Bell.

Although it is sad that Jones will not return for season 45, there is no reason for fans to be mad or upset with Jones’ decision to leave the show. This is just a career move that many past SNL alum has made to pursue other projects.

Similar to Jones, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, and Kristen Wiig were so loved on SNL, yet decided to leave and do other projects. Even though this seemed like a sad moment in SNL at the time, all of these women went on to do great things in their careers. 

Just think: if Amy Poehler had not left SNL, where would the Pawnee Parks Department be without the Leslie Knope we all love? If Kristen Wiig had not left, would we have the cinematic gem that is Bridesmaids? Where would we be without Maya Rouldoph playing the charismatic Hormone Monstress on “Big Mouth” if she had stayed on SNL?

This is why Jones’ announcement, although sad, should be met with excitement for her future projects coming soon that we should gladly support.