Sources confirm to Deadline that Sasheer Zamata is leaving Saturday Night Live, the show’s third cast member in a week to make the just-ended Season 42 the last.
Though she hadn’t scored any real breakthrough original characters, Zamata did a strong Michelle Obama, and included Rihanna and Solange Knowles among her roster. She played the clueless vlogger Janelle in a recurring bit, including once with Chris Rock as her dad.
She was a regular on the show’s “Black Jeopardy” skits, including this excellent one with Tom Hanks last October:
Zamata also has appeared on TBS’s People of Earth, Amazon’s Transparent, Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer and Netflix’s Bojack Horseman, and her comedy special Sasheer Zamata: Pizza Mind debuted in March on SeeSo. Features include Sleight, Yoga Hosers and Deidra & Laney Rob a Train, among others. Upcoming is The Outdoorsman.
Like Bayer and Moynihan, Zamata wasn’t given an onscreen send-off last night, though the three did get a hero’s hoist once the cameras were off. Zamata shared the moment on her Instagram page today:
Offstage, Zamata is the American Civil Liberties Union’s Celebrity Ambassador for Women’s Rights.
Entertainment Tonight was first to report Zamata’s exit.
Source: Deadline, Entertainment Tonight
