​After a barrage of criticism for the show’s perceived lack of diversity, NBC and “Saturday Night Live” announced Monday that Sasheer Zamata would be joining the case when the sketch comedy show returns to the air on January 18.

Zamata is the first black woman to be added to the cast since Maya Rudolph departed five years ago.

‘SNL’ and Executive Producer Lorne Michaels came under heavy fire after the show’s season premiere for again failing to include an African-American woman in the cast, despite regular turnover on the show since Rudolph left. This season alone the show added six new cast members—all but one of whom are white. Noel Wells is of mixed Hispanic-Tunisian descent.

Zamata, a University of Virginia alum, comes to “SNL” after honing her improv chops at the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Read More: The Hollywood Reporter

Brief Take: By being so open about auditions for a new cast member, “SNL” hoped to quash any remaining controversy by appearing actively engaged in solving its diversity problem.

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