Bowen YangA fan-favorite Saturday Night Live cast member is leaving the series after this week's episode.
Representatives for Young and “Saturday Night Live” had no comment on the move Friday. However, on Saturday he confirmed his impending departure via post on his Instagram account. “I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people. I was there at a time when many things in the world were starting to seem worthless, but working at 30 Rock taught me the value of showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile,” he wrote. “I’m grateful for every minute of my time there.”
Yang also thanked this week's host Ariana Grande and his Wicked co-star for “sending me off in the dreamiest way I could ever imagine.” The couple, along with musical guest Cher, were spotted in promo for Saturday's episode.
There has been speculation recently about whether Yang will end the current season of the show. He has appeared on “SNL” since season 45 after a year as a writer.
Yang played numerous roles on the NBC comedy series, including portraying Vice President J.D. Vance, Fran Lebowitz and Pygmy hippopotamus Mu Dan. Yang received his fifth Emmy nomination for his work on SNL's historic 50th season.
In addition to “SNL,” Yang has recently appeared in several other projects. He co-hosts the popular podcast Las Culturistas with fellow comedian Matt Rogers, and their landmark Las Culturistas Culture Awards were televised for the first time this year, airing on Bravo and airing on Peacock. Ian also appeared in Wicked and its recent sequel Wicked: For Good, and has appeared in several other feature films, including The Wedding Banquet, Fire Island and Dicks the Musical.
In early December, Yang confirmed that he and Rogers would write and star in the film. untitled comedy for Searchlight Pictures. The film will reportedly follow two Americans who fly across the world to try to get into the exclusive Berghain nightclub in Berlin.
Yang isn't the first “Saturday Night Live” cast member to leave the show midseason—he joins the company of past “SNL” greats like Cecily Strong, Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler and several others who left the show outside of the traditional window to leave while the show is on its summer hiatus.
Before the start of season 51, NBC and executive producer Lorne Michaels made some major cast changes, adding five core players after a series of departures. My moneyHeidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emile Wakim all left the series before the season premiered in October.
Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Cam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska have joined the cast for the current season. Marshall previously worked on the “SNL” writing team and is known for his on-camera performances as part of the comedy trio “Please Don't Destroy.”
Saturday Night Live's 51st season will begin in early 2026 and run until the end of the television season in May.
