'Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang Reveals Frustrations That Led to His Surprise Midseason Departure: 'I Was Always Just There'

When fan-favorite SNL player Bowen Yang announced he was leaving the series halfway through Season 51, most viewers were left in absolute shock.

Joining the cast in 2019, the 35-year-old Yang was seen as something of a breakout star within NBC's hit sketch comedy series, handing in a variety of memorable characters throughout his time on the series.

But as Yang himself recently said in an interview for Variety, he never specifically felt that "central" to the show's inner workings.

"I was kind of resolute the season before, about leaving," Yang told actress Rachel Sennott in a conversation for Variety. "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."

"I feel like there was a weird utility to me. I was like, 'OK, I've accepted this,'" the comedian continued. "I never played the dad or the straight-man teacher. I was always there as the seasoning, and I'm like, 'That's great. I'm so lucky. I can't believe I have a steady job in comedy. I will cherish it for the rest of my life.' And I just felt like it was the right time."

Fortunately, Yang's decision to stay halfway through Season 51 ultimately helped the younger cast members joining the series ease their way onto the show, as Yang revealed to Sennott.

"On my last day, the whole cast signed this cue card with little messages," the Wicked star said. "Ashley Padilla, who was having one of the best seasons anyone's ever had, wrote - I hope it's OK that I'm sharing this - 'You taught me how to be at this show, how to behave and how to treat people, and thank you. I'll never forget that.' That's the thing I'm proudest of."

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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 10:51 AM.