Bowen Yang to exit ‘Saturday Night Live’ during Season 51

Bowen Yang is set to depart Saturday Night Live, bringing his six-year run on the long-running sketch comedy series to an unexpected close.

The 35-year-old comedian will leave the NBC show midway through its 51st season, with his final episode scheduled to air on December 20, according to multiple reports. Representatives for SNL and Yang have not yet commented.

Yang joined SNL in 2018 as a writer before quickly transitioning to on-camera roles, eventually becoming one of the show’s breakout cast members. Known for his sharp social satire and viral characters, he built a devoted following and helped modernize the show’s comedic voice.

His exit follows a wave of cast changes this season. Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner departed ahead of the fall premiere, while Michael Longfellow and Emil Wakim also stepped away, signaling a broader reset for the veteran series.

Beyond SNL, Yang has been expanding his career across film and audio. He recently appeared in Wicked and will return in Wicked: Part Two, while his podcast Las Culturistas, co-hosted with Matt Rogers, has grown into a pop culture staple with its own televised awards show.

Yang’s final episode will coincide with Wicked co-star Ariana Grande hosting the show, with Cher serving as the musical guest, a notable pairing given Yang’s long-standing admiration for the pop icon.