'SNL' Producer Lindsay Shookus Is Leaving the Show After 20 Years - Read Her Statement

Lindsay Shookus has announced that she is leaving Saturday Night Live after working on the show for the past 20 years.

The 42-year-old producer, who served as the head of SNL‘s talent department, said in an Instagram post that she doesn’t know where she’ll be going next, but knows it will be “someplace good.”

Lindsay started her tenure at SNL as an assistant in 2002 after graduating from college. She became an associate producer in 2008, a co-producer in 2010, and a producer in 2012. She won six Emmy Awards during her time at the show!

As the head of the talent department, she was “responsible for booking hosts and musical guests as well as scouting new cast members,” according to Deadline.

Lindsay was famously linked to Ben Affleck. They had an on-off relationship between 2017 and 2019.

Click inside to read what Lindsay Shookus said in her goodbye statement…

Keep scrolling to read Lindsay Shookus’ goodbye statement…

After 20 seasons at Saturday Night Live (and 415 live shows – i counted!), I have decided to trade in the wild late night life and move on from the show. When I started in 2002, I was a baby from Buffalo, NY who didn’t know anything about the business, except that I so badly wanted to be somehow part of it. I found my place at SNL and I’ve spent the past two decades developing the most incredible friendships and memories alongside some truly brilliant and talented people. I also met the man with whom I would have my beautiful daughter Maddie with – and what could be a greater gift from my time at the show than my sweet, funny girl who makes every day brighter.

I am excited about what lies ahead …. (Apparently there’s a thing called Brunch that people do on weekends?) I’m really looking forward to spending more time with my daughter, continuing my work with the SNL diversity scholarship, which I proudly helped to create and foster with the support of NBC Universal & my incredible SNL Talent Team, and devoting more energy to @womenworkfinghard, the organization I co-founded in 2018 to help women navigate their careers, build their businesses and (nowadays) advocate for their rights!

I will be forever grateful to Lorne for this once in a lifetime opportunity…thank you for your support, encouragement and freedom to bring my voice to this legendary stage.

Thank you to all the people that pushed, supported, taught, listened, valued and respected me throughout my crazy ride at the show. There are so many of you (too many to name) but please know that I will always be thankful for each and every one of you and never take for granted how special those moments and lessons have been.

I don’t know exactly what else the future holds for me, but I’m a big believer in letting the universe unveil itself to you, and allowing that goodness in. It may not be perfectly written yet, but I know I’m headed someplace good. And I can’t wait to share it. ❤️