Bowen Yang confirms sudden SNL exit with heartfelt post

Bowen Yang has confirmed reports that he is leaving Saturday Night Live, departing in the middle of his eighth season after seven full seasons as a cast member.

In a Saturday Instagram post, the Wicked actor shared a carousel of photos that included a group image of the cast, behind-the-scenes looks at sketches, and candid dressing-room shots outside the SNL studio at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. He wrote, "i loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people," and added that he was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 rock taught him the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile. He continued, "i’m grateful for every minute of my time here," and wrote that he learned about himself (bad with wigs), about others (generous, vulnerable, hot), that human error can be nothing but correct, and that comedy is mostly logistics and that it will usually fail until it doesn’t, which is the besssst. Yang thanked dozens of friends, former co-workers, SNL pages and past hosts, and acknowledged Lorne Michaels, writing, "thank you to lorne for the job," for "the standard. and for bringing everyone at work together. they all care deeply about people in the room, any room, enjoying themselves. i can’t believe i was ever included in that." He concluded, "the show doesn’t go on because it’s ready, but shiiiiit, i hope i am."

Deadline and Variety reported that Yang is leaving the show in the middle of his eighth season, a midseason departure that remains relatively rare in SNL's history. The exits most comparable in the past include Cecily Strong’s 2022 departure, along with earlier midseason exits such as Molly Shannon in 2001, Dana Carvey in 1993, and Eddie Murphy in 1984. Norm Macdonald also left midseason in 1998, though his departure was not voluntary. The current move places Yang among a small handful of performers to exit midstream rather than at the traditional season-end bow.

Yang, who debuted as a featured player in season 45 and was promoted to a regular cast member two years later, leaves SNL amid ongoing roster adjustments. The decision comes as the long-running NBC sketch show continues to adjust its ensemble while maintaining its signature mix of political satire, pop culture parody and nightly live performances.

Beyond his television work, Yang is also known for his stage and screen projects, including a role in the Broadway musical Wicked. In his farewell note, he reflected on the people who helped shape his time at 30 Rock and expressed gratitude for the community he found there. He thanked Lorne Michaels for the opportunity and for fostering a culture where people in the room, any room, feel supported and valued, even as the show evolves. "the show doesn’t go on because it’s ready, but shiiiiit, i hope i am," he wrote, closing a message that many online readers interpreted as a fitting, bittersweet note to a chapter that defined his career until now.

This development marks another notable shift in SNL’s ongoing evolution as it continues to balance new talent with established veterans, a process that has characterized the show through decades of late-night television. As Yang departs, the cast roster will likely see further changes in the weeks ahead, with fans and industry observers watching closely to gauge how the program will adapt to the next wave of eras and performers.