Chloe Fineman revealed that Lorne Michaels was watching the World Cup semifinals when she called him to inform him of her departure from "Saturday Night Live." Michaels, in his characteristic style, was engrossed in the England vs. Argentina match when Fineman made the call.
"He was doing, like, the coolest thing in the world with the coolest people, but we had a lovely talk," Fineman told Variety at the premiere of Apple TV’s “The Dink.” She recalled Michaels answering and initially stating, "I’ll call you back, I’m at the game." Fineman responded with a joke, inquiring if he was supporting England due to his "energetically very British" persona.
Fineman announced her exit from the NBC sketch comedy series via Instagram, stating, "After 7 wonderful seasons at ‘SNL’ I have decided it’s time for my next chapter." She described her time on the show as a "privilege" and acknowledged that while leaving is "hard," she believes it is the "right time." She expressed that the people she worked with are like family and the show's home will always feel like hers.
Fineman, who joined "SNL" in 2019 for its 45th season, is reportedly leaving the show shortly after accepting a role in David E. Kelley's new Netflix drama series, "Myron Bolitar." Insiders described the move as swift and a decision Fineman "couldn’t say no to."
Reports also surfaced suggesting potential tension between Fineman and some "SNL" cast members as a contributing factor to her departure. One source indicated that while Fineman had good relationships with some colleagues, not everyone clicked with her, and some felt she expected others to accommodate her schedule and preferences. However, another source close to the show denied these claims, stating, "There’s no truth to this."