Kenan Thompson ‘Begged’ Leslie Jones To Stay On ‘SNL,’ Is ‘Devastated’ By Her Exit

No one is more devastated by Leslie Jones’s decision to leave Saturday Night Live than her cast mate and best friend, Kenan Thompson, RadarOnline.com has learned.

A source close to the comedians recently told Straight Shuter that the All That star begged Jones to stay on the hit show — but evidently, she refused.

“People do not realize how close Leslie and Keenan are,” the insider told Straight Shuter. “They are not just friends at work, they are pals even when they are outside of the famous 30 Rock studios. They have always been there for each other.”

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The source added that Thompson recently performed at a comedy charity event in New York City, and out of the entire SNL cast, only Jones turned up to support him.

“Not only did Leslie attend, but she jumped up onstage and did a 15-minute set for her pal. Kenan is devastated that she is leaving the show and begged her to stay,” said the insider.

Radar readers know Jones’s exit from the sketch show was reported this August, and caused much shock, seeing as she’s one of SNL’s most celebrated cast members. The comedienne has delighted audiences with her jokes since 2014, when she first stepped foot in Studio 8H.

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A source exclusively told Radar this month that Jones’s next move may be hosting the Oscars, as fellow comediennes Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are asking for “a hell of a lot of money to do the job.”