On Monday, TMZ reported that longest-tenured “SNL” player Kenan Thompson would be leaving at the end of the sketch comedy show’s upcoming 40th season.
The site added that Thompson originally planned to leave last season, but executive producer Lorne Michaels convinced him to stay on. The show, however, says that the story is false.
“This report is incredibly inaccurate as the season hasn’t even started and cast decisions aren’t made until the end of the season,” a “Saturday Night Live” spokesperson told TheWrap.
Also read: Jim Carrey to Host ‘Saturday Night Live’ Early This Season (Exclusive)
Thompson has been with the NBC staple since 2003. The comedian’s reps did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Season 40 of “Saturday Night Live” kicks off this weekend with host Chris Pratt. The following weekend, former cast member Sarah Silverman will host the program from Studio 8H. Bill Hader is also coming back to the show that made him famous to host a fall episode.
Plus, as TheWrap reported exclusively, Jim Carrey will take his turn early this season, timed to the release of “Dumb and Dumber To.”