Emmy-nominated comedian Bowen Yang exits SNL after six groundbreaking seasons, surprisingly.
Bowen Yang Leaves Saturday Night Live
In December 2025, fans of Saturday Night Live (SNL) received surprising news. Bowen Yang, a popular comedian on the show, is leaving in the middle of the season.
Yang joined the show in 2019 and made history as the first Chinese-American cast member. In 2021, he achieved something rare: he became the first “featured player” to be nominated for an Emmy Award.
Why Is He Leaving?
It remains a mystery why Yang decided to leave at this time. He has not released an official statement.
- Past Concerns: In September 2025, Yang mentioned he was worried that people might be “getting sick” of him.
- Lorne Michaels’ View: The creator of the show, Lorne Michaels, told Yang that the show still needed him and there was more work to do.
- A Common Move: While it seems sudden, other famous stars like Eddie Murphy and Cecily Strong also left the show in the middle of a season.
A Big Final Show
Yang’s final episode is scheduled for December 20. It is expected to be a very emotional night.
His co-star from the movie Wicked, Ariana Grande, will be the host. The legendary singer Cher will be the musical guest.
Even though he appeared in advertisements for the show just a day before, this will be his last time on the SNL stage.
Looking to the Future
Yang has spoken before about how difficult the SNL schedule is.
He called the show a “boot camp”—a place where comedians train intensely before moving on to bigger projects.
Earlier this year, he watched other close friends leave the cast. Now, Yang is ready to see what his own future holds outside of Studio 8H.
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