Bowen Yang is set to depart Saturday Night Live, marking the end of a groundbreaking run for one of the show’s most influential and visible queer cast members. Yang’s final appearance as a cast member will air Saturday, with Wicked star Ariana Grande hosting and Cher serving as musical guest, a high-profile sendoff for a performer who helped reshape the show’s comedic voice in recent years.
Representatives for Yang and Saturday Night Live declined to comment on the decision. The exit comes midway through Yang’s eighth season with the show, an unusual but not unprecedented move in the long-running sketch series’ history.
Yang joined SNL as a writer in 2018 during Season 44, quickly becoming a standout behind the scenes. He was promoted to featured player in Season 45 and rose to repertory status beginning with Season 47. Over the years, Yang emerged as one of the show’s most reliable scene-stealers, known for his sharp delivery, pop culture fluency and ability to inject camp, chaos and sincerity into even the most absurd sketches.
For LGBTQ audiences, Yang’s presence carried particular weight. As one of the first openly gay Asian American cast members in SNL history, he brought perspectives rarely centered on the iconic stage. His characters, from viral impressions to original creations, often leaned into queerness without apology, helping normalize LGBTQ humor that wasn’t framed as a punchline but as a point of view.
Yang’s departure follows a significant cast shake-up ahead of Season 51, which premiered in October. Several longtime and newer players exited the show, including Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and John Higgins. Higgins’ exit coincided with changes to the Please Don’t Destroy trio, with Martin Herlihy moving to the writing staff and Ben Marshall joining the featured cast.
While cast turnover is a constant at SNL, midseason exits are relatively rare. Notable performers who have left the show before finishing a season include Cecily Strong, Molly Shannon, Dana Carvey and Eddie Murphy. Norm Macdonald also departed midseason, though his exit was the result of being fired rather than a voluntary move.
Yang’s decision to leave early has sparked speculation about what comes next. In recent years, he has expanded his career beyond Studio 8H, appearing in major film projects such as Fire Island, Bros and the upcoming Wicked adaptation. He also co-hosts the popular comedy podcast Las Culturistas, which has cultivated a devoted fan base and earned critical acclaim for its blend of pop culture commentary and queer humor.
