ancient Saturday night live cast member Chris Redd claimed in a new video that he was selling pills to his castmates.
Redd, 40, appeared as a cast member for five seasons starting in 2017, making his debut alongside Heidi Gardner in season 43, before exiting the show before season 48 in 2022.
In one Instagram video posted on Tuesday, January 6, the comedian explained that he will “lead with a lot more vulnerability and openness” in his work and life going forward, prompting him to confess his side hustle while SNL.
“While I was on the show, I had some problems with the pills, I had some problems with the pills,” he said. “Nothing too crazy, but crazy about my black ass, you know? I was even selling some to some of my cast mates. I’m not going to fool all of you kids, man.”
Saturday Night Live has catapulted the careers of many of today’s hottest comedians, including Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey and Adam Sandler. Murphy, meanwhile, appeared as a cast member from 1980 to 1984. He became a lucrative movie star, but tension between him and the show arose after (…)
Redd said he was hurt that people on the show “talked shit” about him as he struggled with a pill addiction, instead of supporting him.
“I would listen to them because, you know, some of that Adderall crap made you feel really good hearing and shit,” he said. “But (they) wouldn’t help me, you know. I’d have panic attacks, (they) wouldn’t care about me or anything. They’d just say shit. It’s crazy how someone would watch you destroy yourself, you know.”
Redd left SNL in September 2022, ahead of the show’s 48th season, around the same time news broke that she was dating a co-star Kenan Thompsonthe ex-wife of Cristina Evangeline.
“Be part of SNL it’s been the experience of a lifetime,” Redd said in a statement at the time. “Five years ago, I came into 30 Rock knowing that this was an incredible opportunity for growth. Now, with friends that have become family and memories that I will cherish forever, I am grateful to Lorne Michaels and all the SNL organization From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you enough.”
That same month, a source said exclusively Us Weekly that “Christina and Chris started dating earlier this year,” adding that Evangeline and Redd met “before (Chris) started doing SNL” and they had been friends for years.
“They’ve always been very close. He’s been there for her in the last year through some of the hardest times in her life… She seems to be the happiest she’s ever been. Her relationship with Chris is great and it’s normal,” the source said.
Redd also addressed his relationship with Evangeline in Tuesday’s Instagram video. Redd said Evangeline, 36, helped him with his addiction problems while he was SNL and “at that time, we fell in love.”
Redd said Evangeline was “the only one who called me on my shit, helped me with my shit, helped me with my therapy journey, and told me things about her life that made me look at a lot of people involved in it differently.”
“I felt bad from the beginning. It’s always felt like an emotional double-edged sword, because I love everything that Kenan and I did, bro,” Redd, who also starred in Thompson’s NBC sitcom. Kenanhe added. “I really appreciated every piece of work we did, I think we were a great team and I hate to do something to someone that I know would hurt them.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, reach out Administration of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).