Bowen Yang to Depart ‘Saturday Night Live’ During Current Season
A wave of cast changes continues at NBC’s iconic sketch comedy show as Bowen Yang prepares to exit Saturday Night Live (SNL) mid-season, concluding his eight-year run with the program. His final appearance is slated for this Saturday’s episode, featuring Wicked star Ariana Grande as host and Cher as the musical guest, as first reported by Variety.
Yang, 35, initially joined SNL in September 2018 as a writer for the show’s 44th season, transitioning to a featured cast member the following year during the 45th season. The comedian previously hinted at a potential departure during an interview with People in April, acknowledging the cyclical nature of the show. “With SNL, like I said, it’s this growing, living thing where new people come in and you do have to sort of make way for them and to grow and to keep elevating themselves,” he stated at the time. “And that inevitably requires me to sort of hang it up at some point — but I don’t know what the vision is yet.”
Yang’s contributions to SNL have garnered significant recognition, earning him four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025. He also received an Emmy nomination in 2019 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, highlighting his multifaceted talent.
Yang’s exit follows a recent trend of cast departures. He joins Cecily Strong, who left the show in December 2022 during Season 48. In September, Devon Walker announced his departure after three seasons with a post on Instagram, stating, “Me and baby broke up.” Ego Nwodim, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, and Heidi Gardner were also announced as departing cast members.
The announcement comes as Saturday Night Live prepares for its 51st season, airing Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on Global.
