Bowen Yang departs ‘SNL’ following wave of major cast changes this season
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“Saturday Night Live” cast member Bowen Yang is set to leave the show in the middle of its 51st season. Yang’s final episode airs this Saturday, hosted by her “Wicked” co-star Ariana Grande and with Cher as the musical guest.
The long-running sketch show will begin its annual Christmas break after this weekend’s episode. Variety and other selling points reported that Yang will not return when the series returns in the spring.
Yang joined the Midnight cast as a writer in 2018, ahead of Season 44. She later moved into an on-air role before Season 45 and was promoted to repertory cast member in Season 47. His departure follows a wave of major cast changes following the show’s landmark 50th season.
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Bowen Yang attended the New York premiere of “Wicked: For Good” held at David Geffen Hall on November 17, 2025 in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/WireImage)
Ahead of Season 51, Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, John Higgins and Devon Walker left the show. While several of the departing players said they were released, others said they chose to leave.
Cast members leaving mid-season is rare but not unprecedented. Past examples include Cecily Strong in 2022, Molly Shannon in 2001, and Eddie Murphy in 1984.
Yang earned five Emmy nominations during his tenure, including four for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and one for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.
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Promotional episodes of “Saturday Night Live” on Thursday include musical guest Cher, host Ariana Grande and actor Bowen Yang. (Rosalind O’Connor/NBC via Getty Images)
Yang became a fan favorite for offbeat characters like the iceberg that sank the Titanic and Moo Deng the hippo. He also portrayed political figures such as George Santos and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Outside of “SNL,” Yang co-hosts the podcast “Las Culturistas” with Matt Rogers and starred in “Wicked” and its sequel “Wicked: For Good.”
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Bowen Yang, who plays hippo Moo Deng, appears with Colin Jost during Weekend Update on “Saturday Night Live” on September 28, 2024. (Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images)
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Representatives for Yang and “Saturday Night Live” did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
