Hillary Clinton has paid tribute to Pete Davidson and Kate McKinnon, who announced their exits from “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend.
The final episode of the NBC comedy sketch show for Davidson, 28, and McKinnon, 38, aired on Saturday. The former secretary of state paid tribute to the two comedians on Sunday, a day after the show aired, by posting throwback images of herself with them on Instagram.
“Congratulations to these two on incredible runs on ‘SNL.’ Can’t wait to see all you do next,” she wrote in the caption.
McKinnon was dressed as Clinton during the 2016 presidential election and posed alongside the 74-year-old former first lady in one of the photos. In the other, Davidson was posing for the camera with his hand on Clinton’s shoulder, as per IB Times-News.
Several Instagram users commented in the post’s comments section that they will miss Davidson and McKinnon and can’t imagine the show without them.
“Kate and Pete will be so missed!” one person commented, as another added: “Two true winners… Can’t imagine ‘SNL’ without them.”
“Amazing performers! Loved watching them in action!!” a third user commented.
“Fantastic pictures! Kate will be missed. The skit you did with her will always be one of the best skits,” another wrote.
Davidson announced his departure from the show after eight seasons on Friday. McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, and Kyle Mooney were all announced to be parting ways shortly after.
McKinnon first appeared in the episode’s cold open, in the fan-favorite “Close Encounter” sketch, where she reprised her role as Miss Rafferty, a woman abducted by aliens, for the final time.
She said goodbye to both her character and herself as an “SNL” star after being told to join the extraterrestrials “permanently” and enter an alien spacecraft, according to People.
“Well, Earth, I love you. Thanks for letting me stay awhile,” McKinnon said, getting emotional.
She then placed her hand on her chest and ended the sketch with the show’s signature catchphrase, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” as the audience erupted with cheers.
Meanwhile, Davidson said his goodbyes on the episode’s “Weekend Update” segment.
“Back then, I was just a skinny kid and no one knew what race I was. Now, everyone knows I’m white because I became hugely successful while barely showing up to work,” he joked, CNN reported. “Look at me now, I’m aging like an old banana.”
Davidson confirmed his departure from “SNL” in an Instagram post posted by his friend, “SNL” writer Dave Sirus, on Saturday, hours before the Season 47 finale aired. The post included a video of Jerrod Carmichael hugging Davidson after the latter made his show debut in 2014.
Davidson praised producer Lorne Michaels and all of his “SNL” colleagues for their support and “sticking up for me even when that wasn’t popular opinion” in a statement.
“‘SNL’ is my home. I’m so happy and sad about tonight’s show. For so many reasons I can’t explain. Can’t wait to be back next year in a [John] Mulaney musical number,” he wrote.
