Bowen Yang, considered one of Saturday Evening Stay‘s essential forged 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 accordance with Deadline, Bowen, 35, will take his closing bow throughout 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 to date about his midseason departure.
When Is Bowen Yang Leaving Saturday Evening Stay?
Bowen’s final episode on SNL shall be on December 20, 2025, in response to Deadline. He’s leaving amid the vacation break.
Why Is Bowen Yang Leaving SNL?
Bowen has not publicly commented on his exit on the time of publication. His motive for leaving midseason continues to be unclear, although he’s needed to miss a number of episodes, primarily to advertise the 2 Depraved movies final yr 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 Individuals in September 2025 — amid a extremely publicized forged shakeup — the Depraved actor mentioned that he felt he nonetheless “had extra to do” on SNL and wished 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 advised the outlet. “[Creator] Lorne [Michaels] was like, ‘You might have extra to do,’ and which means loads, 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 advised him. He additionally credited the SNL creator with giving his leisure profession a springboard.
“That man has modified my life, and I owe quite a lot of my life to that present,” Bowen continued. “And I like working there, the persons are one of the best. 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 put up in September 2025. She wrote, “The toughest a part of an amazing celebration is understanding when to say ‘goodnight.’ However after seven unforgettable seasons, I’ve determined to go away 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.
