The real reason behind Heidi Gardner’s shocking ‘SNL’ exit revealed

Out with the old, in with the new.

Despite Heidi Gardner being a staple on “Saturday Night Live” for the past eight seasons, the comedian will not be part of Season 51 because her contract was not renewed, The Post reports.

“It’s time for a new cast,” an insider told the outlet.

Gardner, 42, was the longest-tenured female cast member before her shocking exit. Her viral moments over the years include her cracking during a Ryan Gosling “Beavis and Butt-Head” sketch and playing Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, “Abby.”

Her popular recurring characters on the show included Angel (every boxer’s girlfriend) and Gen Z movie critic Bailey Gismert.

Gardner has yet to address her “SNL” departure. Her rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

Earlier this week, Dana Carvey discussed Gardner’s exit on his and “SNL” alum David Spade’s “Fly on the Wall” podcast.

“From what I know as of this recording, that it was not her idea to leave,” Carvey said. “I could be wrong about that, but that’s what I read.”

“I think she’s got a likability,” he added. “She can play real, straight news woman, she can play big, brawn, funny, physical. So I was surprised by that.”

Gardner is one of four cast members leaving the show amid a major cast shake-up. Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Devon Walker are also not returning to the iconic sketch show next season.

The series has instead added five new cast members — Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska — NBCUniversal announced Tuesday.

Back in August, “SNL” boss Lorne Michaels hinted at making big changes, telling Puck News that he felt “pressure to reinvent this season.”

Walker later commented on exiting the show after three seasons, telling Rolling Stone that month that the decision was mutual.

“To be frank, I guess the best way I put it is like me and the show kind of looked at each other and we decided together that it was time to go our separate ways,” he said.

“I think I felt ready to leave the show, and I think the show felt ready to leave me.”

Walker previously called the show “toxic” at times when announcing his departure on Instagram.

“Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool,” he wrote.

“Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we … made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f–ked up lil family.”