“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.” With his “Wicked” co-star and good friend Ariana Grande hosting, the 35-year-old “SNL” vet went out with a teary last sketch after seven seasons on the show.

Bowen Yang has taken his final curtain call on Saturday Night Live — against the wishes of show creator Lorne Michaels. “i’m grateful for every minute of my time there,” the comedian, 35, wrote in a lengthy message on Instagram on Sunday,

Ariana Grande is team Carol Burnett. The iciness between comedy legend Carol Burnett and SNL boss Lorne Michaels is well-documented, and Grande made her stance clear when she sported one of Burnett’s famous ensembles to promote her upcoming hosting stint on the show this weekend.

Lorne Michaels wanted Bowen Yang to stay on "Saturday Night Live" — but here's why the 35-year-old comedian was ready to leave after seven seasons. "SNL" insiders shared

Chase, the first anchor and the co-creator of the Weekend Update segment on “SNL,” in the first season alongside Dan Akroyd, John Belushi and Gilda Radner, mentions his hurt feelings in CNN’s documentary “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not.”

Lorne Michaels has some big plans for "Saturday Night Live" Season 51. In an August interview with Puck News, the "SNL" creator talked about the future of the hit show, which has been running since 1975, and said he plans on shaking up the cast for the new ...

However, new details reveal that he left the live show against the wishes of the creator, Lorne Michaels. On December 23, 2025, Page Six exclusively reported that Bowen Yang was requested to stay with the show, and that everyone, including the creator, had asked him to stay.