Bowen Yang has finally spoken out about his shock departure from Saturday Night Live, revealing that he walked away because he felt “it was time.” The 35-year-old actor made the rare move of leaving halfway through the current 51st season following an emotional Christmas finale.
Speaking on his podcast, Las Culturistas, Yang told co-host Matt Rogers that he felt privileged to leave on his own terms. Addressing his decision to quit, Yang said: “I have this very beautiful thing where I get to say that I stayed on exactly as long as I wanted to.”
‘Pre-stretched and pre-dyed’
Despite being a fan favorite and earning five Emmy nominations, Yang admitted he struggled with how the public perceived his talent. He specifically addressed a common online critique that he lacked “range” as a performer.
Yang explained that the nature of a sketch show often relies on archetypes, but felt that his own identity made him a target for lazy labeling. He said: “People had their over-determinations on what I was, which was: ‘Oh, that’s just the gay Asian guy on SNL.’ So anytime I would try to work outside of that, it got completely ignored or it still got collapsed to, ‘Oh, he’s being gay and Asian as always.'”
Read more: Bowen Yang Set to Exit ‘Saturday Night Live’
He noted that white actors are often treated as a “canvas to build upon,” whereas he felt he arrived at the show “pre-stretched and pre-dyed.”
A tearful goodbye
The star’s final episode was a star-studded affair, hosted by his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande and featuring a musical performance by Cher. The night was packed with nostalgic moments, including the return of former cast member Aidy Bryant for a final “Trend Forecasters” segment.
The show ended with a poignant sketch featuring Yang as a bartender at an airport lounge. As the cast gathered around him for a final song, viewers noticed genuine tears in his eyes.
Read more: Bowen Yang Thinks The ‘Wicked’ Saga Has Finally Reached The End Of Its Yellow Brick Road
Reflecting on his time at Studio 8H, Yang shared a touching tribute on social media: “I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people. Working at 30 Rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.”
What’s next for Bowen?
Yang first joined the show as a writer in 2018 before making history as the first-ever Chinese-American cast member. While he is leaving the weekly grind of late-night TV behind, his schedule remains packed.
He is currently starring in the global blockbuster Wicked: For Good and has several film projects in development. Fans can also continue to hear him weekly on his podcast as he enters this new chapter of his career.
