SNL announces its first-ever non-binary cast member

Saturday Night Live has hired its first-ever non-binary cast member. 

Molly Kearney - who uses they/them pronouns and is best known for playing Fern Dannely in the TV adaptation of A League of Their Own - confirmed they’d been added to the famous sketch show’s roster on Instagram on Thursday (15 September).

Sharing their new SNL headshot, Kearney wrote: “MEATBRICK MOVED TO NEW YORK !!!!”

They also expressed their excitement in a follow-up Instagram Story, penning: “Head exploding!! Thanks for all the love everyone.”

Kearney, who hails from Cleveland, also stars in Disney+’s The Mighty Ducks and their SNL signing was also announced on the NBC show’s official Instagram.

Kearney, who’s LA-based, is a staple on the stand-up circuit, having performed countless shows across the US as well as producing The Big One, a monthly outdoor standup show. 

Kearney’s fans were stoked to hear the news, and many took to the comment section to show their support.

One person wrote: “Yassssssssssss,” while another added: “Congrats and much love!”

Other comments included: “Out of this world,” “Hell yeah!” and “So incredibly proud of you.”

Marcello Hernandez, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker are also joining SNL’s 48th season, which premieres on 1 October. 

As for the other news castmates’ credentials, Hernandez recently made the Just for Laughs New Face of Comedy lineup, while Longfellow is best known for having appeared on Netflix’s Introducing….

Meanwhile, Walker is a writer on Netflix’s Big Mouth and in 2017 was picked for Comedy Central’s Up Next showcase.

Season 47 of SNL had 21 cast members, the most any season of the show has ever had. 

There was a mass exodus of SNL stars following the show’s 47th season, with the likes of Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney leaving the show. 

Davidson went out with a bang, delivering a hilarious final ‘Weekend Update’ segment with co-host Colin Jost.

He kicked things off by quipping: "Hello Colin and Che, and millions of people only watching to see if I bring up Kanye," in reference to his short-lived romance with Kim Kardashian.

He added: “I never imagined this would be my life, you know. I mean, look at me when I started here. Like back then, I was just like a skinny kid and no one knew what race I was.

"And like now everyone knows I'm white, because I became hugely successful while barely showing up to work.”

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