Bowen Yang, one in every of Saturday Night time Dwell‘s major solid members and comedy fan favourite, is reportedly leaving the sketch comedy collection after seven years with the present. He began out as a author earlier than being promoted to a repertory participant.
In keeping with Deadline, Bowen, 35, will take his last bow through the December 20, 2025, episode, whereas his Depraved co-star Ariana Grande hosts.
So, why is Bowen leaving SNL now? Here’s what we all know up to now about his midseason departure.
When Is Bowen Yang Leaving Saturday Night time Dwell?
Bowen’s final episode on SNL might be on December 20, 2025, in keeping with Deadline. He’s leaving amid the vacation break.
Why Is Bowen Yang Leaving SNL?
Bowen penned a heartfelt assertion about his departure in an Instagram submit shared on December 20. Insiting that he “cherished working at SNL,” Bowen added that he “cherished the folks” he labored with.
“I used to be there at a time when many issues on the earth began to look futile, however working at 30 rock taught me the worth in exhibiting up anyway when folks make it worthwhile,” he wrote. “I’m grateful for each minute of my time there. i discovered about myself (dangerous with wigs). i discovered about others (beneficiant, weak, sizzling). i discovered that human error will be nothing however right. i discovered that comedy is usually logistics and that it’s going to often fail till it doesn’t, which is the besssst.”
His cause for leaving midseason remains to be unclear, although he’s needed to miss a number of episodes, primarily to advertise the 2 Depraved movies final 12 months and this previous fall.
Regardless of some followers being shocked by the information, Bowen’s exit has truly been a subject of debate. Whereas chatting with Folks in September 2025 — amid a extremely publicized solid shakeup — the Depraved actor mentioned that he felt he nonetheless “had extra to do” on SNL and needed to remain.
“I’ve all the time passed by the intuition of, do I’ve extra to do? And I really feel like I do,” Bowen informed the outlet. “[Creator] Lorne [Michaels] was like, ‘You’ve extra to do,’ and meaning rather a lot, as a result of I even confessed to him… ‘I really feel the viewers is perhaps getting sick of me.’ And he was like, ‘That’s not true. There’s extra so that you can do. I want you.’”
Bowen added that he had “to honor that,” referring to what Lorne informed him. He additionally credited the SNL creator with giving his leisure profession a springboard.
“That man has modified my life, and I owe lots of my life to that present,” Bowen continued. “And I really like working there, the persons are the perfect. I actually love every of them a lot.”
Who Else Left SNL?
Fairly a number of fan-favorite SNL gamers left the present forward of its 51st season. Amongst them had been Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim.
When Ego’s exit made headlines, she addressed her departure in a heartfelt Instagram submit in September 2025. She wrote, “The toughest a part of an important get together is understanding when to say ‘goodnight.’ However after seven unforgettable seasons, I’ve determined to depart SNL.”
Stating that she was “immensely grateful to Lorne for the chance,” Ego thanked her castmates, the writers and the SNL crew “for his or her brilliance, assist and friendship.”
“Week after week on that stage taught me greater than I may have ever imagined, and I’ll carry these recollections, and that laughter, with me all the time,” she concluded.
