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Coverage dated December 18, 2025 to December 20, 2025

Tearful Bowen Yang departs 'SNL' after emotional Ariana Grande Christmas episode

Headline from NBC New York, on the newest of 2 developments

Bowen Yang bid an emotional farewell to “Saturday Night Live” with music, laughter and help from his “Wicked” buddy Ariana Grande.

NBC New York's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Look: Bowen Yang confirms 'SNL' exit in farewell Instagram post

    Headline from UPI ·

  2. Newest

    Tearful Bowen Yang departs 'SNL' after emotional Ariana Grande Christmas episode

    Headline from NBC New York ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

76 articles, oldest first.

  1. Los Angeles Times

    Bowen Yang is to leave 'Saturday Night Live' after eight seasons (opens Los Angeles Times)

    Published

    Los Angeles Times's feed description

    'SNL' favorite Bowen Yang, who spent seven seasons as a cast member and one as a writer, is expected to leave the NBC sketch comedy show.

  2. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

    Bowen Yang is exiting ‘Saturday Night Live’ after this weekend’s episode (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

    Published

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description

    The comedian’s sudden departure comes after eight seasons on the show.

  3. Rolling Stone

    Bowen Yang to Exit 'Saturday Night Live'<em> </em>After 7 Seasons (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Bowen Yang will leave 'Saturday Night Live' in the middle of his eighth season, following Satruday's episode with Ariana Grande and Cher.

  4. Fox News

    'SNL's' Bowen Yang leaving show mid-season (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Bowen Yang will exit "Saturday Night Live" midway through season 51, with his final episode airing Saturday, hosted by Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher.

  5. The Hollywood Reporter

    Bowen Yang Is Leaving ‘SNL’ (opens The Hollywood Reporter)

    Published

    The Hollywood Reporter's feed description

    Bowen Yang is leaving ‘SNL.’

  6. Forbes

    Bowen Yang Reportedly Leaving ‘Saturday Night Live’ This Week (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    This weekend’s episode is expected to be his last.

  7. New York Post

    Bowen Yang abruptly leaving ‘SNL’ after 7 seasons: ‘Out of the blue’ (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Bowen Yang is departing "Saturday Night Live" after Saturday night's episode.

  8. Variety

    ‘SNL’ Shocker: Bowen Yang to Exit Cast After Saturday’s Episode (opens Variety)

    Published

    Variety's feed description

    Bowen Yang is exiting 'Saturday Night Live' in the middle of his eighth season as part of the show and his seventh season as a cast member.

  9. CNN

    Bowen Yang is leaving ‘Saturday Night Live’ (opens CNN)

    Published

    CNN's feed description

    Bowen Yang is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after this weekend’s Christmas show.

  10. Deadline

    Bowen Yang To Leave ‘Saturday Night Live’ (opens Deadline)

    Published

    Deadline's feed description

    Yang joined the show as a writer in 2018 ahead of Season 44 and joined the cast ahead of Season 45.

  11. The Columbian

    Bowen Yang to leave ‘Saturday Night Live’ after 8 seasons (opens The Columbian)

    Published

    The Columbian's feed description

    LOS ANGELES — Bowen Yang, a fan-favorite cast member of "Saturday Night Live," is expected to leave the series after this week's episode. Representatives for Yang and "Saturday Nig

  12. UPI

    Look: Bowen Yang confirms 'SNL' exit in farewell Instagram post (opens UPI)

    Published

    UPI's feed description

    Comedian Bowen Yang has confirmed his exit from Saturday Night Live a day after media reports swirled that this weekend would be his last on the sketch comedy show.

  13. ABC 17 Mid-Missouri

    Bowen Yang says he is leaving ‘Saturday Night Live’ (opens ABC 17 Mid-Missouri)

    Published

    ABC 17 Mid-Missouri's feed description

    CNN By Dan Heching, CNN (CNN) — Bowen Yang is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after this weekend’s Christmas show, in the middle of Season 51. Yang confirmed his departure in an Instagram post on Saturday. “i loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people,” he wrote.

  14. NPR

    Bowen Yang leaves 'SNL' midway through his 8th season (opens NPR)

    Published

    NPR's feed description

    The comedian is scheduled to co-host his final show on Saturday with Wicked star Ariana Grande.

  15. Denver Westword

    From Aurora to Saturday Night Live: Bowen Yang's Best Bits on Weekend Update (opens Denver Westword)

    Published

    Denver Westword's feed description

    Bowen Yang is leaving SNL after the December 20 episode. He got his first taste of comedy at Aurora's Smoky Hill High School.

  16. Anchorage Daily News

    Bowen Yang to depart SNL mid-season after episode featuring friend Ariana Grande (opens Anchorage Daily News)

    Published

    Anchorage Daily News's feed description

    Yang joined the show as a writer in 2018, became a featured player the next season, and was promoted to the main cast two seasons later. Yang has been a fan favorite with five Emmy nominations.

  17. NBC News

    Bowen Yang is exiting 'Saturday Night Live' (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    "Saturday Night Live" fan favorite Bowen Yang announced on Instagram that he is departing the show after tonight's episode hosted by his "Wicked" co-star Ariana Grande."I loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people," he wrote.

  18. KOB 4

    Bowen Yang to depart SNL mid-season, last episode with buddy Ariana Grande (opens KOB 4)

    Published

    KOB 4's feed description

    Bowen Yang will leave “Saturday Night Live” mid-season after Saturday's episode with Ariana Grande. He joined as a writer in 2018, became a featured player the next season, and was promoted to the main cast two seasons later. Yang has been a fan favorite with five Emmy nominations.

  19. Deadline

    Bowen Yang Bids Farewell To 'SNL', Teases "Dreamiest" Send-Off (opens Deadline)

    Published

    Deadline's feed description

    As Bowen Yang prepares for his final show as a 'Saturday Night Live' cast member, he bid farewell with a bittersweet statement.

  20. The Hollywood Reporter

    Bowen Yang Says Goodbye to ‘SNL,’ Thanks Ariana Grande “for Sending Me Off in the Dreamiest Way” (opens The Hollywood Reporter)

    Published

    The Hollywood Reporter's feed description

    Amid his exit from 'Saturday Night Live,' Bowen Yang is looking back on his seven years at Studio 8H fondly.

  21. Variety

    Bowen Yang Pens Goodbye Message to ‘SNL’ Ahead of Last Episode: ‘I’m Grateful for Every Minute of My Time There’ (opens Variety)

    Published

    Variety's feed description

    Bowen Yang is speaking out about his surprise exit from "Saturday Night Live."

  22. New York Post

    Bowen Yang breaks his silence on decision to leave ‘SNL’ after 7 seasons (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Saturday night's episode, with host Ariana Grande, will be the funnyman's last.

  23. NBC New York

    Tearful Bowen Yang departs 'SNL' after emotional Ariana Grande Christmas episode (opens NBC New York)

    Published

    NBC New York's feed description

    Bowen Yang bid an emotional farewell to “Saturday Night Live” with music, laughter and help from his “Wicked” buddy Ariana Grande.

  24. KVIA El Paso

    Bowen Yang tearfully bids farewell to ‘Saturday Night Live’ with the help of Cher and Ariana Grande (opens KVIA El Paso)

    Published

    KVIA El Paso's feed description

    By Dan Heching, CNN (CNN) — Bowen Yang got teary-eyed during the final sketch on Saturday’s episode of “Saturday Night Live,” which was his last. The 5-time Primetime Emmy nominee – who confirmed via his social media earlier on Saturday that he was retiring from “SNL” after the telecast – played a D…

  25. Rolling Stone

    Bowen Yang Delivers an Emotional Goodbye to 'SNL' With Ariana Grande, Cher, Aidy Bryant (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Bowen Yang delivered an emotional goodbye to 'Saturday Night Live' in skits featuring Ariana Grande, Cher, and Aidy Bryant.

Showing the first 25 of 35 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Tearful Bowen Yang departs 'SNL' after emotional Ariana Grande Christmas episode | Since Then