Bowen Yang speaks out after shock decision to leave SNL mid season

Bowen Yang claimed he was ‘grateful for every minute’ spent working at Saturday Night Live following his shock departure from the comedy staple.

After initially coming on board as a writer ahead of SNL’s 44th season, Yang was promoted, becoming the NBC sketch comedy show’s first Chinese-American staff actor in 2019.

Seven years after his arrival, the 35-year-old has confirmed that he has left the long-running programme behind.

The latest episode, aired on December 20, acts as his swan song. He appeared alongside singer Cher and his Wicked co-host Ariana Grande.

Despite not giving a solid reason for exiting midway through SNL’s 51st season, The Wedding Banquet favorite has claimed he ‘loved’ being part of the show for the best part of a decade.

“And most of all I loved the people,” he typed via Instagram.

Bowen Yang has officially exited Saturday Night Live midway through its 51st season (Instagram/fayedunaway)

“I was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 Rock [SNL HQ] taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.

“I’m grateful for every minute of my time there.”

Yang, who appeared in 126 episodes of SNL, claimed he’d learned a lot about himself over the years, including that he was ‘bad with wigs’ and that human error ‘can be nothing but correct’.

The star shared highlights from his seven years at SNL via Instagram (Instagram/fayedunaway)

“I learned that comedy is mostly logistics and that it will usually fail until it doesn’t, which is the besssst,” the Overcompensating actor continued.

“Thank you to every single person who showed up there: friends and coworkers and audiences and hosts.”

He used the Instagram post to thank past and present members of the writing room, including Celeste Yim, Julio Torres, and Auguste White, as well as hair designer Jodi Mancuso, among others.

“Thank you to Ari for sending me off in the dreamiest way I could imagine,” Yang gushed.

Yang's final SNL was hosted by his Wicked co-star, Ariana Grande (NBC)

Lorne Michaels, who created and produces the programme, was thanked by Yang for not only bringing the actor ‘in’ to NBC, but for setting ‘the standard and bringing everyone at work together’.

“They all care deeply about people in the room, any room, enjoying themselves. I can’t believe i was ever included in that,” he added.

“The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready, but sh*****t, I hope I am.”

Yang already has two projects lined up for his post-SNL career, including a voice acting role on an animated version of The Cat in the Hat, and Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me.

The latter is an adaptation of Sarah Leavitt’s graphic novel, directed by Leah Nelson.

The actor has had a plethora of projects release this year, including Wicked: For Good, and Wedding Banquet (NBC)

According to IMDB, Yang will join the stacked cast, which includes Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Seth Rogen.

The Australian-born comedian, who has been nominated for five Primetime Emmys during his career, has recently lent his voice to episodes of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, as well as The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, the latter of which also stars Natasha Lyonne, Kieran Culkin, and Keke Palmer.