Bowen Yang’s tearful Saturday Night Live farewell wasn’t the whole story — sources say the comedian was unhappy and “over it” long before his final bow.
“Everyone tried to get Bowen to stay, from Lorne down,” an SNL source told Page Six. “But he just made up his mind, he was over it. He was not happy, you could tell.”
Yang, 35, left the show mid-season after seven years, making his final appearance Saturday with Wicked co-star Ariana Grande hosting and Cher as musical guest. But according to insiders, his exit had been brewing for months.
Page Six reported back in September that Yang had planned to leave at the beginning of Season 51, but creator Lorne Michaels, 81, “threw a ton of money” at the comedian to convince him to stay. Yang ultimately signed on through December only — though sources say everyone thought he’d change his mind and stick around longer.
“Bowen actually only signed up to December, but we all thought he would stay. No one thought he would go [now],” the SNL source said.
While there was apparently no single incident that pushed Yang over the edge, multiple factors contributed to his decision. “You can always tell when a cast member is done,” the source added.
One major issue was being overcommitted. Yang co-hosts the hit podcast Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and has numerous film and TV projects lined up. In October, he missed an SNL episode to accept an award at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. He also took significant time off to film both Wicked movies — with Grande personally calling Michaels to request the leave, she told Vanity Fair.
“It was too much to do it all,” the SNL source said.
Yang and Rogers are currently co-writing and will co-star in an untitled comedy for Searchlight, Deadline reported this month. The pair previously starred together in the 2022 comedy Fire Island.
Another factor in Yang’s unhappiness: the August cast shake-up that saw several of his colleagues cut from the show. Page Six was told Yang was particularly upset about Heidi Gardner being let go after eight seasons, along with Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Michael Longfellow. Ego Nwodim also left before the season premiere in September.
“It’s a grueling schedule. It’s a tough thing to do, just from the [lack of] sleep alone,” a former cast member told Page Six.
Yang got emotional during both Saturday’s live show and dress rehearsal for his final sketch, in which he played a Delta flight lounge attendant serving his last shift. Co-star Marcello Hernandez ramped up audience applause as Yang teared up.
There was even backstage chatter that Yang’s farewell sketch could get cut, though it ultimately aired as the night’s closing sketch. “I just feel so lucky that I ever got to work here and I just wanted to enjoy it a little bit longer, especially the people,” Yang said in character.
In his Instagram post following the show, Yang thanked Michaels and his castmates, writing, “I loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people.” He thanked Grande “for sending me off in the dreamiest way i could imagine.”
Yang joined SNL as a writer in 2018 and became an on-air featured player in 2019, making history as the show’s first Asian cast member. He was promoted to the main cast in Season 47 and earned five Emmy nominations during his tenure — four for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series.
“Everyone at the show is supportive of him and his decision,” the SNL source said.