Chris Redd, a former cast member of Saturday Night Live, has opened up about his personal battles with substance abuse, sharing how his issues with pills sometimes spilled over into his professional life on the iconic NBC show.

In a heartfelt Instagram video, Redd, now 40, expressed his commitment to embracing a new chapter marked by openness and vulnerability. This newfound perspective drove him to discuss his struggles with substance use during his tenure on the beloved comedy series.

“While I was at the show, I faced some challenges with pills,” Redd confessed in the video he posted on Tuesday. “It wasn’t anything too extreme, but it was significant for me, you know?”

In a surprising revelation, Redd admitted that his involvement with pills extended beyond personal consumption. He acknowledged that he even sold pills to some of his fellow cast members, although he refrained from naming any individuals.

“I was selling some to my castmates,” he admitted, while making it clear that he had no intention of exposing anyone involved, adding, “I’m not gonna snitch on y’all.”

Redd joined SNL in 2017 during season 43 and remained with the show for five seasons before exiting ahead of season 48 in 2022.

Saturday Night Livealum Chris Redd revealed that his struggle with pills once spilled into the workplace and, allegedly even, involved some of his fellow cast members; seen in 2019

Looking back, he said what hurt most was feeling unsupported during his lowest moments.

According to Redd, he overheard colleagues speaking negatively about him rather than offering help, even as he struggled with anxiety.

‘It’s crazy how somebody would watch you destroy yourself,’ he said, reflecting on the experience.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Saturday Night Live and Redd’s representatives for comment, but has not heard back, at this time. 

The comedian announced his departure from SNL in September 2022, calling his run on the show ‘the experience of a lifetime.’

In a statement at the time over his exit, Redd expressed gratitude to creator Lorne Michaels and the entire SNL organization, saying the relationships he built there would stay with him forever.

Around the same period, reports surfaced that Redd was romantically involved with Christina Evangeline, the ex-wife of fellow SNL alum Kenan Thompson.

A source told Us Weekly that the pair had known each other for years before becoming romantically involved and that Redd had been a strong source of support for Evangeline during a difficult time in her life.

In a candid Instagram video, the comedian, 40, spoke publicly about his experience with substance issues while working on the long-running NBC series (seen in 2018)

‘While I was at the show, I had some pill issues, I had some pill problems,’ Redd said in the video, uploaded on Tuesday. ‘Nothing too crazy, but crazy for my Black a**, you know?’ (seen in 2017)

In his recent video, Redd addressed the relationship directly, crediting Evangeline with helping him confront his problem and pushing him to get therapy while he was still on SNL. 

‘I know a lot of people talk about me dating Kenan Thompson’s ex-wife and how that came to be. I’ma just tell it to you straight,’ he said. ‘Bottom line is, I’m not that type of person to scheme on a person. I’m not the type of person to even date somebody that like, one of my homies has dated. This is a very unique, nuanced thing that happened.’

Redd also acknowledged the emotional complexity of the situation, noting his close professional relationship with Thompson, including their work together on Thompson’s NBC sitcom Kenan.

‘I would have panic attacks, [and people] wouldn’t be concerned about me or nothing, would just talk s**t,’ he continued. ‘And it was crazy how somebody would watch you destroy yourself.’ 

Redd was romantically involved with Christina Evangeline, the ex-wife of fellow SNL alum Kenan Thompson (seen in 2024) 

‘I really love everything me and Kenan did,’ he said. ‘I hate doing something to somebody that I know would hurt them.’ 

He continued: ‘I don’t feel player for this s**t at all. But I did choose love… To all the fans I disappointed, just know this was not something – I don’t feel like a pimp. I don’t feel cool about this at all, besides the fact that I found someone that makes me feel like I didn’t even know what love was for real.’ 

Evangeline and Thompson split after 15 years together. 

The former couple were married for 11 years and share two daughters Georgia and Gianna.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or substance abuse, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).