Why Chloe Fineman is really leaving SNL for Netflix
Chloe Fineman is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after seven seasons because a Netflix role on David E. Kelley’s “Myron Bolitar” landed in a single day — and why Chloe Fineman really couldn’t say no became clear as rising stars like Ashley Padilla took more of the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
- Fineman, 38, decided to leave “SNL” hours after being offered a role on Kelley’s Netflix drama “Myron Bolitar.”
- An industry insider told Page Six the exit “all unfolded in one day” and that she “knew she couldn’t say no.”
- Insiders framed the move as smart after seven seasons, with new faces including Ashley Padilla and Veronika Slowikowska rising.
- Padilla is expected to be promoted to a full cast member when the show returns in the fall.
- Fineman’s exit follows last year’s departures of Bowen Yang, Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim.
The comedian’s sudden pivot is the kind of celebrity breaking news that reshapes an “SNL” season before fall casting chatter even peaks.
Why did Chloe Fineman leave SNL so quickly?
According to Page Six, Fineman made the call just hours after the Netflix offer arrived. An industry insider said it “all unfolded in one day … It happened very quickly.”
“Chloe went back and forth, but it was a smart move — she knew she couldn’t say no,” the insider added. After seven seasons, the same source said the timing was “probably the best move for her,” especially with so many new faces on the show.
How do new cast faces factor into her exit?
Insiders pointed to rising talent such as Ashley Padilla and Veronika Slowikowska as part of the backdrop. Padilla, 33, is set to be upped to a fully fledged cast member after two years as a featured player when “SNL” returns in the fall.
Padilla appeared in 92 sketches last season, per Consequence of Sound, with her “Parent Teacher Conference” sketch alongside Bad Bunny drawing 9.6 million YouTube views. Fineman was in 81 sketches for the 2025-2026 season; Slowikowska was in 50.
It is not yet known who else, if anyone, might leave. Cast-change announcements are typically made in August.
What did Fineman say about leaving SNL?
Announcing her exit on Instagram, Fineman wrote: “It’s really hard to leave SNL but it does feel like the right time. I’m going to miss it a lot. But the people who work there are my family and that place is my home, and I know I’ll never be too far away.”
James Miller, author of the “SNL” oral history “Live From New York,” said she made “the time-honored calculation” of weighing future opportunities against affection — and sometimes burnout — for the show. He praised her versatility and said audiences trusted her to make them laugh.
What’s next for Chloe Fineman after SNL?
Fineman is set to join Kelley’s new Netflix drama “Myron Bolitar.” Her departure comes a year after the show lost Yang, Gardner and Nwodim — another reminder of how quickly “SNL” ensembles turn over when bigger offers arrive.