Please Don’t Destroy Reacted To The SNL Breakup In A Heartfelt And Hilarious Way That Involves Winnie The Pooh (And I Wouldn’t Expect Anything Less)

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Lorne Michaels, the head of Saturday Night Live, had announced plans for significant changes at Studio 8H back in the summer, and those adjustments have now taken effect. Some writers and cast members have been let go, and new developments surround the group known as Please Don’t Destroy. John Higgins has left, Martin Herlihy remains as a writer, and Ben Marshall has joined as the fifth featured player. In a lighthearted manner, the trio is discussing their feelings about the separation, with Winnie the Pooh playfully involved in their conversation.

For some context, the group – Higgins, Herlihy, and Marshall – initially came together as university students at NYU. This was around the late 2010s when they established Please Don’t Destroy. Fast forward to 2021, Saturday Night Live (SNL) recruited them as writers, leading to significant success for the trio with their self-performed pre-recorded sketches on NBC. Their collaborative work on SNL resulted in many popular and viral skits. These successful skits paved the way for the movie “The Treasure of Foggy Mountain,” produced by PDD.

After four years of solid PDD content, the pals are breaking up ahead of SNL’s 51st season. John Higgins shared it was very difficult to leave, noting how great it was to work with his besties. He followed the confession of not returning to his regular 2025 TV schedule spot with some positivity. Here’s what he wrote on Instagram, complete with the Winnie the Pooh reference:

I’m astonished by the fortune of participating in this spectacular show – it was a cherished dream come true! Sharing this journey with my two closest friends and dear old dad only added to the magic. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to everyone who contributed to those memorable moments, making my departure all the more bittersweet. For now, I’m brimming with excitement for the acting projects ahead that I’ll be disclosing soon. But today, let me just express my deepest gratitude for the experiences we’ve had together, as Winnie the Pooh put it so eloquently, ‘Oh, how difficult it is to say goodbye.’

What an epoch-ending moment! Although they spent four years together, their influence was significant. Sharing time with stars like the seasoned Colin Jost from 30 Rock and the illustrious Rami Malek is no small feat. It’s also worth mentioning that they may have played a minor role in the blossoming relationship between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.

Of course, Higgins’ closest friends arrived to express their sadness over not having their fellow creative collaborator around anymore, given the reports of cast members not returning to 51. It’s unsurprising that both Herlihy and Marshall offered humorous perspectives on the situation. To begin with, Herlihy voiced his affection but also playfully criticized his peer for disparaging the A.A. Milne character. Marshall was more direct, showing appreciation for their shared venture with the Bohemian Rhapsody star.

  • Martin Herlihy: “Love u so much my guy. ♥️♥️♥️ That being said, it’s not ok to fat shame Winnie the Pooh. Not in 2025, not ever. Period. I’m with him right now and he’s super upset. Dude, not cool. Got Piglet calling me and shit…. Man. Not cool. Call me IMMEDIATELY.”
  • Ben Marshall: “Love you forever brother. PDD and Rami’s assistant 4 life.”

In much the same way, the newly introduced player, Ben Marshall, shared a touching message accompanied by photos from their collaborative past, expressing that their partnership would continue in some form even beyond this point. Meanwhile, PDD’s tour presses forward as planned and Portland residents will be able to catch them later in the week.

In simpler terms, Higgins’ Instagram job is as entertaining and heartwarming as his time on Saturday Night Live (SNL) over the past four years. His former SNL colleague commented on one of Higgins’ posts, with Higgins jokingly promising to keep an eye out for him.

I will be watching every Saturday (Sunday morning), brother.

It’s great that Higgins no longer has to deal with the busy Saturday Night Live schedule, allowing for effortless monitoring of his friends! In my view, watching it the next day via Peacock subscription is the ideal method to ensure you never miss a thing.

While I’m unfortunately hearing about the disbandment of Please Don’t Destroy, I’m glad to learn that these comical friends will remain close and connected in some capacity – perhaps through sharing Winnie the Pooh quotes online for now. As of yet, Herlihy hasn’t publicly shared any personal updates on the matter.

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2025-09-04 12:41