Bowen Yang opened a sensitive vault of his heart, revealing the reason for his departure from Saturday Night Live (SNL) - a show to which he gave seven of his best years. Many might remember Yang on SNL for his great sketches that perfectly captured internet culture, brought a fresh perspective to late-night television, and masterfully tapped into modern celebrity and pop culture. His absurdist humor and dynamic character work resonated deeply with a younger audience. 

However, he shocked everyone with his mid-season exit in 2025 from the popular late-night show.

Despite never feeling "that central" to the sketch comedy program, Bowen Yang had a great time on Saturday Night Live. During their conversation on Variety's Actors on Actors on Monday, Yang discussed his thoughts on leaving SNL in 2025 with Rachel Sennott. The two talked about Lorne Michaels' unexpected phone call, the internet, and their comedic beginnings.

"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.' I never felt like I was that central to it, to be honest," Yang said.

After seven and a half seasons on Saturday Night Live, Yang left the show midway through season 51 at the end of 2025. The comic broke down in tears when Yang was given a fitting farewell on television on his final episode, which aired on December 20th, 2025. Yang clarified his viewpoint after Sennott expressed her strong disagreement that Yang was not a key component of the long-running sketch show throughout his tenure.

“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,” Yang explained.

Before Lorne Michaels intervened and persuaded him to postpone his departure by a few months, he had originally intended to wave farewell following the conclusion of season 50, which felt like the end of an era at Saturday Night Live. Now he has just gratitude for however long he got to be on the show with his fellow SNL team members.

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He also shared why he decided to delay his exit from the show on Michaels' request.

Bowen Yang remembered the call with Lorne Michaels and the way he persuaded him to delay his departure by a few months. He actually requested the comedian to stay for at least the first half of the 51st season, as he had hired new cast members and they needed someone to guide them and ease them into the team. 

The call had a great impact on Yang as he felt needed; he felt like someone who could make different things possible. He could not turn down such a request, and so he decided to stay for a few more months on the show. May 16th marked the conclusion of Saturday Night Live's 51st season, which included Paul McCartney as a musical guest and alumnus Will Ferrell returning to the show as host.

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