Bowen Yang is speaking out on his decision to say goodbye to Studio 8H.
After seven seasons on “Saturday Night Live,” the actor, 35, confirmed he is leaving the late night show.
“I loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people. i was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile,” Yang began on Instagram on Saturday.
“i’m grateful for every minute of my time there. i learned about myself (bad with wigs). i learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot). i learned that human error can be nothing but correct.”
Yang is set to leave after Saturday night’s Christmas episode. His “Wicked” co-star, Ariana Grande, will host along with musical guest Cher.
“Thank you to lorne (Michaels) for the job. for the standard. and for bringing everyone at work together,” gushed Yang. “They all care deeply about people in the room, any room, enjoying themselves. i can’t believe i was ever included in that.”
Friends and fans flocked to the comments section to wish Yang well.
Evan Ross Katz wrote, “Iconic (understatement),” while Andy Cohen simply stated: “Bravo.”
Brittany Snow added, “A Scorpio, rising!! 😍😍.”
“Summer House” star Amanda Batula also shared a sweet message, penning, “Will miss you but can’t wait to see what’s you do next 🤍🤍🤍🤍.”
Yang’s abrupt departure comes after first joining for season 45 in 2019.
“It’s his choice. People have no idea what is really going on,” an insider told The Post on Friday. “This has come out of the blue, but is no surprise.”
Just months earlier, a handful of “SNL” cast members, including Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim, also exited the sketch comedy series before season 51 premiered on Oct. 4.
According to sources, Yang allegedly wanted to leave “SNL” after season 50, but creator Lorne Michaels and the network convinced him to stay on.
“Bowen was telling friends that it was his time. He wanted to move on and was even planning to spend time in Japan,” an insider told The Post in September.
“People on the show told him to take the summer to think it over, but it looked like he was leaving and everyone was just waiting for the announcement,” they continued. “He talked to Lorne and [NBC] threw a ton of money at him.”
Over the past few months, Yang himself has alluded to departing the long running show.
He told People in April that “SNL” was “this growing, living thing where new people come in and you do have to sort of make way for them and to grow and to keep elevating themselves.”
“That inevitably requires me to sort of hang it up at some point,” explained Yang, “but I don’t know what the vision is yet.”
Meanwhile, the funnyman has been booked and busy in recent years.
Yang has co-hosted the widely popular “Las Culturistas” podcast with Matt Rogers since 2016. The duo debuted the Las Culturistas Awards in August, which aired on Peacock.
Last year, Grande, 32, appeared on Yang’s podcast and confessed that she wanted him to play Pfannee in “Wicked” so badly that she personally reached out to Michaels, 81, to make it work with the “SNL” schedule.
“I was so, so over the moon excited that you were going to be able to do it — I called Lorne!” the pop star revealed in November 2024. “I knew that it was a huge, massive ask — and also probably an impossible one.”
“You made it work,” Grande gushed. “You exhausted yourself and worked yourself to the bone.”
