Bowen Yang has left Saturday Night Live after seven years on the show. His final appearance was on the December 21, 2025 episode, which was hosted by his friend and Wicked co-star Ariana Grande with Cher as the musical guest. The comedian announced his departure in a social media post just before the show aired, calling the experience the “dreamiest” send-off.
Yang’s exit comes in the middle of Season 51, making him the latest cast member to leave the show following a major cast change earlier this year. While the specific reason for his mid-season departure has not been shared, Yang expressed deep thanks for his time at the show.
Yang’s Goodbye Message and Final SNL Skit
On the morning of his last show, Bowen Yang posted a message to his followers. He focused on the people he worked with and the lessons learned during his tenure.
In the post, he wrote: “I loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people. i was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.”
He added personal notes of thanks, saying, “i learned about myself (bad with wigs). i learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot). i learned that human error can be nothing but correct.” He specifically thanked show creator Lorne Michaels for giving him a job and setting the standard, and Ariana Grande “for sending me off in the dreamiest way i could imagine.”
His farewell was woven into the night’s comedy. For his final live sketch, Yang played a Delta Airlines employee working his last shift at an airport eggnog station on Christmas Eve. The emotional scene allowed Yang to say goodbye directly to the audience.
In the sketch, after his character’s machine breaks down, he tells customers, “This is my last shift.” He goes on to share his feelings: “Yeah, it’s sad. I’m gonna miss everything about this place. The smells, celebrities would come through… I just feel so lucky that I ever got to work here.”
The sketch featured cameos from the night’s host and musical guest. Grande played his wife, Rhonda, who joined him for a duet. Cher then entered as his boss, delivering a final, funny piece of feedback to Yang’s character: “Well, everyone thought you were a little bit too gay. But you know what? You’re perfect for me.”
Bowen Yang’s SNL Career and Legacy
Bowen Yang made history when he joined the cast. He started as a staff writer in 2018 during Season 44. A year later, he was promoted to an on-air featured player, becoming the show’s first Chinese American cast member. He was elevated to the main cast starting with Season 47.
During his time, he became known for creating unique and memorable characters. One of his most famous was “The Iceberg That Sank the Titanic,” a recurring bit on the “Weekend Update” segment where he played a personified version of the iceberg. He also gained attention for his impression of George Santos, the expelled congressman.
Other notable work includes the commercial parody “Straight Male Friend” with NFL star Travis Kelce, and playing a gay Oompa-Loompa in a Wonka spoof. His skill earned him five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Yang had previously talked about the natural life cycle of an SNL career. In an interview with People magazine earlier in 2025, he reflected on the constant change. “It’s this growing, living thing where new people come in and you do have to sort of make way for them,” he said. “And that inevitably requires me to sort of hang it up at some point.”
He also shared advice he once received from former cast member Kristen Wiig: “She was like, ‘Have fun. It’s the most fun job in the world, and you’ll miss it when it’s done. You won’t realize how much you miss it until you leave.’”
The Context of Yang’s Mid-Season Departure
Bowen Yang’s exit follows a significant cast overhaul before the start of Season 51. Several other longtime cast members, including Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, and Devon Walker, left the show last summer. Mid-season departures are less common but not unheard of in SNL history. Other cast members who left before a season ended include Cecily Strong, Dana Carvey, and Eddie Murphy.
The show will take its usual holiday break and return with new episodes on January 17, 2026. The first show of the new year will be hosted by Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things with musical guest A$AP Rocky.
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What’s Next for Bowen Yang
Even before leaving SNL, Yang had built a busy career outside the show. He is best known for co-hosting the popular pop culture podcast Las Culturistas with comedian Matt Rogers. The podcast has grown into the Las Culturistas Culture Awards, a spoof award show that aired on Bravo and is set to return in 2026.
His film career has also expanded. He recently appeared in the movie Wicked and its sequel Wicked: For Good as Pfannee, which is how he became friends with Ariana Grande. He also starred in the 2025 remake of The Wedding Banquet.
Upcoming projects include a role in Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me and voicing a character in the animated film The Cat in the Hat.
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