Sherri Shepherd Urges SNL to Cast Black Woman After Ego Nwodim Exit

Sherri Shepherd has strongly urged Saturday Night Live (SNL) to urgently hire another Black female cast member following the departure of Ego Nwodim, who was the show's only Black woman on cast. Shepherd described the situation as an "emergency," emphasizing the critical importance of representation on SNL, noting past instances when Black female roles were portrayed by Black male cast members due to the absence of Black women on the show. Despite new cast additions for season 51, none included a Black woman, which Shepherd criticized by highlighting the abundance of talented Black female comedians ready for such opportunities. The issue of diversity and representation on SNL has been ongoing, with previous seasons also lacking Black female talent, despite the presence of Black women among the show's writers. Shepherd referenced her own experiences with SNL parodies of "The View," where Kenan Thompson played Whoopi Goldberg and Tracy Morgan portrayed her, illustrating the erasure of Black women on the show. Overall, Shepherd's call reflects a broader conversation about inclusion and the need for SNL to better reflect the diversity of the society it satirizes.