Former SNL Writer John Higgins Announces Departure from “Please Don’t Destroy”

NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2025 - John Higgins, one-third of the viral comedy trio “Please Don’t Destroy,” has officially announced he will step away from writing and appearing on Saturday Night Live ahead of Season 51.

In an emotional Instagram post shared this week, Higgins reflected on his time with the troupe, calling it a “dream” to write and perform sketches alongside his two best friends and his father. He wrote, “I can’t believe how lucky I was to be a part of this show… Thank you to everyone who made my time there so special, it made this decision that much harder”.

Deadline reports that Higgins’s departure is part of a broader cast shake-up at SNL. Co-founder Ben Marshall has been promoted to the show’s full-time cast, while Martin Herlihy will remain on staff as a writer. According to Deadline, Higgins intends to pursue acting opportunities, which he hinted he would announce “soon”.

“Please Don’t Destroy” first gained widespread attention in 2021 with their parody hard-seltzer sketches, quickly building a dedicated fan base. Over five seasons, the trio produced fewer and fewer segments for SNL-dropping from 11 videos in Season 48 to just six in Season 50-leading to speculation about the group’s future on the show.

Despite his exit, Deadline confirms that “Please Don’t Destroy” is not disbanding; rather, the members plan to focus on separate projects outside of SNL. Fans can expect Higgins to reveal his next moves in the coming weeks.