“Saturday Night Live” alum Chris Redd is getting candid about some past personal struggles.
In a Tuesday, Jan. 6, Instagram video, Redd, who was an “SNL” cast member from 2017 to 2022, revealed that he struggled with “pill problems” during his time on the sketch comedy show.
“Nothing too crazy, but crazy for my Black ass. I was even selling some to people, some of my cast mates. I’m not gonna snitch on y’all,” Redd, 40, said.
The comedian claimed that some of his costars gossiped about his drug use but did nothing to help him.
“I would hear them, because some of that Adderall s–t got you super hearing and s–t. But [they] wouldn’t help me,” Redd recalled. “I would have panic attacks, [they] wouldn’t be concerned about me or nothing. Just would talk s–t. It’s crazy how somebody would watch you destroy yourself.”
The main purpose of Redd’s video was to address his relationship with Christina Evangeline, who was married to Redd’s “SNL” costar Kenan Thompson from 2011 to 2022.
“Bottom line is, I’m not the type of person to scheme on a person. I’m not the type of person to even date somebody that one of my homies has dated,” Redd shared. “This is a very unique, nuanced thing that happened.”
Redd went on to say that Evangeline was “the only one” who expressed concern about his drug use.
“She helped me with my therapy journey. And in that time, we fell in love,” he explained. “And I felt bad from the start. It always felt like an emotional double-edged sword for me, because I really love everything me and Kenan did, bro … I think that we were a great team and I hate doing something to somebody that I know would hurt them.”
Redd noted that he spoke to Thompson about dating his ex-wife while they were still “SNL” costars.
“We were cool. We continued to work [together] for a year after we talked about it,” he said, admitting that things changed between him and Thompson once news of his relationship with Evangeline became public knowledge.
Redd began to cry as he acknowledged that his romance with Evangeline made him “look terrible to people that I love.” He credited his therapy experience with helping him process his emotions.
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“Ever since I realized I’m more sad than angry, all my anger issues have turned into tears,” he shared. “I’m sorry for the people I disappointed with this. … It felt like a love I couldn’t miss out on, and I had to shoot for it.”
NJ.com has reached out to Thompson for comment.
Season 51 of “Saturday Night Live” returns on Saturday, Jan. 17. New episodes premiere on NBC on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET and are available to stream on Peacock the day after they air.
