Bowen Yang has opened up about the circumstances that led to his unexpected departure from Saturday Night Live midway through last season.
The 35-year-old comic made headlines with his sudden exit during the iconic show’s 51st season, a move that is quite rare for SNL.
In a candid conversation with Rachel Sennott for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, Yang shared the details behind his decision to leave.
Yang disclosed that he had actually contemplated exiting the show a year earlier during its landmark 50th season, stating, “I was pretty set on leaving the previous season.”
He expressed uncertainty about the show’s direction after Season 50, adding, “I felt the show was in a good place even without me.”
Yang also shared a poignant truth, admitting he never saw himself as central to the show’s fabric, a sentiment that fellow comedian Sennott challenged.
Bowen Yang has finally detailed what led to his exit mid-season from Saturday Night Live last year
The 35-year-old comedian made the rare move of leaving abruptly in the middle of season 51 which is unusual for the iconic variety show (he is seen parodying pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng in September 2024)
Yang explained: ‘I never felt like I was that central to it, to be honest. Well, I feel like there was a weird utility to me.
‘I was like, “OK, I’ve accepted this.” I never played the dad or the straight-man teacher. I was always there as the seasoning, and I’m like, “That’s great. I’m so lucky. I can’t believe I have a steady job in comedy. I will cherish it for the rest of my life.” And I just felt like it was the right time.’
However, it was series creator and comedy icon Lorne Michaels who ultimately convinced the star to come back.
Yang recalled: ‘And then Lorne [Michaels] called me while I was at the U.S. Open eating Coqodaq chicken, and he was like, “Listen, you should come back. These are the people I’ve hired. It’s a lot of new kids, and a lot of people left. You should be there to set an example for them, at least in the first half of the season. I’m telling you, it would be very important.”
‘It was the first time I felt someone who made so many things possible for me being like, “I need you.” And I’m like, “I’m not going to turn that down.” I felt good about it, and I was like, “Let’s make sure to hire these writers.” Our friend Jack Bensinger is there now. It was my one chance to till the soil.’
Yang’s exit in the middle of the season is quite the rarity for the long-running program.
A few notable SNL castmembers to have left the show midseason included Eddie Murphy (1984), Dana Carvey (1993), Norm MacDonald (1998), Molly Shannon (2001), Amy Poehler (2008). and Cecily Strong (2022).
Yang joined SNL as a writer in 2018 before being promoted to the cast for Season 45.
Yang recently sat down for an Actors on Actors interview with Rachel Sennott for Variety as he laid bare the events which led to his exit
The talented star revealed that he actually considered leaving the prior year during milestone season 50 as he said: ‘I was kind of resolute the season before, about leaving. There was a lot of uncertainty about what the show would look like after Season 50. I was like, “I think the show is in a great place without me”‘
Yang and Sennott seen on the cover of the latest issue of Variety
He earned repertory status ahead of Season 47, quickly becoming one of the show’s standout performers over seven seasons.
His departure followed a summer exodus after Season 50, which saw Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim all leaving the cast.
He made his final appearance on the season 51 episode which aired on December 23 and was hosted by his pal Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher.
At the time, a source told the Daily Mail: ‘Bowen was actually going to leave much earlier and almost didn’t do this season at all, but with all the attention that all the moves SNL did got, Lorne asked Bowen to stay on a little longer and Bowen obliged.
‘Bowen is ready to do his own shows and more movies and more TV outside of SNL. And with Wicked’s success, now was the time to hit the ground running. Bowen hates the word bittersweet, but the whole situation is bittersweet and he is looking forward to this weekend being his swan song.’
Yang’s exit in the middle of the season is quite the rarity for the long-running program; he is seen at the center of the season 51 cast photo
He made his final appearance on the season 51 episode which aired on December 23 and was hosted by his pal Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher
During his tenure, Yang earned critical acclaim, scoring Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025.
Outside of SNL, Yang is a major force in pop culture thanks to his hit podcast Las Culturistas, which he co-hosts with longtime friend and fellow comedian Matt Rogers.
He also starred on Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens from 2020 to 2023.
His résumé continues to grow on the big screen as well.
In addition to Wicked and Wicked: For Good, Yang’s film credits include Fire Island (2022), Dicks: The Musical (2023), and The Wedding Banquet (2025).
