'SNL' says rumors of Kenan Thomson leaving are 'incredibly' false, TMZ sticks by its story

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A day after TMZ reported Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson would depart after this season, a spokesman for the sketch comedy show said the rumor "is incredibly inaccurate."

On Monday, citing "sources connected to SNL," TMZ reported Thompson "planned to leave last season, but decided to stay after head honcho Lorne Michaels asked him to stay on" and is now "in talks for a new show and plans on moving to LA."

"This report is incredibly inaccurate as the season hasn't even started and cast decisions aren't made until the end of the season," a rep for SNL clarified to TheWrap.

Despite the staunch denial, TMZ is sticking by its original story, pointing out its report was about Thompson's intentions, not the show's.

"This is not an SNL decision -- it's Kenan's decision, and we know he's already made it."