Didn’t we just finish watching — and aggressively rewatching — Bowen Yang’s make-out scene with Josh O’Connor on Saturday Night Live? You know the one. The pause. The rewind. The group chat notifications lighting up like Times Square. And now you’re telling us that may have been Yang’s final on-air smooch? We are not emotionally prepared.
According to Variety, Yang is exiting SNL mid-way through his eighth season. Yes, mid-season. Yes, unexpectedly. And yes, the gays are processing this information in real time, one TikTok edit at a time.
From Writer’s Room to Repertory Royalty
Yang’s journey at SNL has been nothing short of iconic. He first joined the show in 2018 as a writer during Season 44, quietly sharpening his voice behind the scenes. By Season 45, he stepped in front of the camera as a featured player, quickly becoming one of the show’s most electric presences. By Season 47? Full repertory player status secured. Crown placed. Legacy activated.
Over the years, Bowen’s work earned him Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 — a rare feat that cemented him as more than just a breakout star. He became the star.
“There’s More for You to Do”
What makes this exit sting a little more is that Yang had publicly committed to Season 51 not that long ago. Just before the season kicked off, he spoke with People about returning — a decision he credited to none other than SNLcreator Lorne Michaels.
Michaels reportedly told Yang he had “more to do,” a simple phrase that carried serious weight. Yang admitted he’d been battling insecurities, even worrying that audiences might be tiring of him. Michaels shut that down immediately, reassuring him that wasn’t the case and making it clear he was still very much needed in Studio 8H.
Yang later reflected that sometimes you show up even when you’re not sure you’re ready — and that’s when interesting things happen. Which, honestly, feels like the unofficial mission statement of queer creativity.
RELATED: Is Bowen Yang Leaving SNL?
A Last Episode Fit for the Gays
If this truly is the end of Yang’s SNL run (for now — because alumni always come back), at least he’s going out with flair. His final episode featured Ariana Grande as host and Cher as musical guest. That’s not an episode — that’s a gay event.
Trailers already tease a moment where Yang gets slapped by Cher and told to “snap out of it,” which somehow feels like the most camp farewell imaginable. If you’re going to leave SNL, getting spiritually dismissed by Cher herself feels correct.
ariana grande, cher & bowen yang for snl pic.twitter.com/MqKGdZIKRX
— allegra☀️ (@theegrandeheels) December 18, 2025
Yang Pens His Goodbye
As fans were still processing the idea of a Yang-less Saturday Night Live, Bowen stepped in to offer his own goodbye — and did it exactly the way you’d expect: thoughtful, funny, quietly emotional, and refreshingly unpretentious.
“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. I’m grateful for every minute of my time there. I learned about myself (bad with wigs). I learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot). I learned that human error can be nothing but correct. I learned that comedy is mostly logistics and that it will usually fail until it doesn’t, which is the besssst.”
Bowen received heartfelt comments and support from SNL’s celebrity guest hosts throughout the years, like Pedro Pascal who commented “❤️❤️❤️” to Simu Liu who said, “such a shining star and writer of the definitive best sketch on asian representation. love you my dongbei brother ❤️❤️❤️.” Bowen’s Wickedly awesome bestie Ariana Grande even reposted Bowen’s farewell.
Yang Is Booked, Busy, and Thriving
Outside of SNL, Yang is very much booked and blessed. He recently reprised his gloriously over-the-top role as Pfannee in Wicked: For Good, reminding everyone that theater gays always win in the end. He also cohosts the wildly popular pop-culture podcast Las Culturistas alongside Matt Rogers, where hot takes and high drama reign supreme.
On the screen, Yang’s résumé is stacked: Fire Island, Dicks: The Musical, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, and upcoming projects like The Wedding Banquet. Translation: this man is not disappearing — he’s ascending.
Leaving Early, But Not Alone
While leaving SNL mid-season isn’t the norm, Yang isn’t alone. Past mid-season exits include Cecily Strong, Dana Carvey, Eddie Murphy, and Molly Shannon. Legends, all of them. Not a bad group chat to be added to.
So… Is This Goodbye?
Bowen Yang ending his 7.5-year SNL run in tears while singing with Cher and Ariana Grande…it doesn’t get much better than that. icon
“This place will always be home, but it’s time to go.” pic.twitter.com/IfsKRDpuxg
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) December 21, 2025
For now, it seems Yang is closing one chapter while sprinting confidently into several others. Whether he pops back up on SNL someday or stays booked across film, podcasts, and pop culture chaos, one thing is clear: Yang’s impact on the show — and on queer comedy — is already indelible.
We’ll miss the impressions, the wigs, the kisses, and the chaos. But if this is a farewell, at least it’s a very gay one.
Final Act
And then there’s his last moment. An Ariana-Bowen-Cher sandwich.
REFERENCE: Variety