Comedian Bowen Yang is departing from Saturday Night Live (SNL) during his eighth season with the iconic late-night sketch show. His final appearance is scheduled for Saturday, which will feature Ariana Grande as the host and Cher as the musical guest. The reason for Yang’s unexpected exit has not been disclosed publicly.
In a heartfelt social media message, Yang expressed his appreciation for the SNL team, stating, “I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people.” He reflected on his time at the show, highlighting its significance during challenging times: “Working at 30 Rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.”
Yang, 35, has been a standout cast member, known for memorable sketches such as “The Iceberg That Sank the Titanic,” a segment on “Weekend Update” where he famously impersonated the iceberg. Other notable works include the commercial spoof “Straight Male Friend,” which featured Travis Kelce, and a recurring impression of former congressman George Santos. His versatility also extended to a sketch portraying an intern during NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series.
Over his tenure at SNL, Yang received five Emmy Award nominations for his performances. His career beyond SNL includes roles in the 2022 romantic comedy Fire Island, the upcoming musical Wicked (2024) and its sequel, Wicked: For Good (2025), as well as a remake of The Wedding Banquet (2025). He also co-hosts the podcast Las Culturistas with fellow comedian Matt Rogers.
Yang made history as SNL’s first Chinese American cast member, joining the show as a staff writer in 2018 before being promoted to on-air talent the following year. In a recent interview with People, he discussed the natural turnover within the show, implying that change is an essential part of growth: “It’s this growing, living thing where new people come in, and you do have to sort of make way for them.”
His departure follows a trend of cast changes, with others like Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, and Devon Walker also leaving prior to the launch of the 51st season in October.
Yang’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment from NPR, while NBCUniversal acknowledged his social media post without offering further details. Although mid-season exits are rare, they have occurred occasionally in the show’s history, with notable cast members such as Cecily Strong, Dana Carvey, and Eddie Murphy having left during a season.
Reactions to Yang’s departure have flooded social media. Actor Evan Ross Katz described him as “iconic,” while comedian Amber Ruffin congratulated him and expressed a desire for more projects like The Wedding Banquet.
Critics, including NPR’s Eric Deggans, view Yang’s exit as a significant loss for SNL. He remarked, “SNL thrives when it has a large crop of utility players who can pull comedic gold from the dodgiest sketch ideas.” Yang’s ability to deliver laughter through diverse roles, from a historical iceberg to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been pivotal in enhancing representation for Asian performers on the show.
Deggans noted that while it may be time for Yang to embark on new ventures, his contributions to SNL will be remembered as part of a transformative era for the series.
