Comedian Bowen Yang has announced his departure from Saturday Night Live, confirming that his most recent episode marked his final appearance on the long running NBC sketch series.
Yang shared the news in a social media post, saying he is grateful for his time on the show but choosing not to explain the reason for his midseason exit. He described his experience at SNL as deeply meaningful and thanked fellow cast members, writers, crew, and longtime producer Lorne Michaels.
“I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people,” Yang wrote, adding that the show taught him the value of showing up even during uncertain times.
Yang’s final episode was hosted by Ariana Grande, with whom he also worked on the film Wicked. The farewell included an emotional sketch in which Yang played an airline employee on his last day at work, a moment that many viewers interpreted as a quiet goodbye.
At 35, Yang leaves SNL as one of its most prominent recent performers. He joined the program as a writer in 2018 before becoming an on air cast member a year later. He made history as the show’s first Chinese American cast member and was widely praised for expanding representation on the series.
His memorable characters included a personified iceberg from the Titanic, satirical commercial roles, and political impressions that became recurring audience favorites. Yang received five Emmy nominations for his work on the show.
Beyond SNL, Yang has built a growing film and voice acting career, with roles in Fire Island, The Wedding Banquet, Bros, and the Wicked films. He also co hosts the popular podcast Las Culturistas.
Neither NBC nor Yang’s representatives have offered further comment. While midseason departures are rare, Yang joins a small group of performers who have left the show before a season concluded. Fellow comedians and critics have praised his impact, calling his exit a significant moment for the series.
