Bowen Yang Sheds Tears in Emotional Final SNL Sketch with Ariana Grande

Bowen Yang struggled to maintain his composure during his final Saturday Night Live sketch, but received heartfelt support from Ariana Grande and Cher.

On Saturday, December 20, Yang, 35, became emotional during a holiday travel-themed sketch, as Grande, 32, and Cher, 79, sang the festive classic “Please Come Home for Christmas.” The sketch humorously referenced Yang’s actual departure from Saturday Night Live, marking his last shift as a Delta Sky Club employee joined by old friends.

“I can’t believe you’re retiring,” Grande remarked, to which Yang responded: “I just wanted to go out on top!”

Grande playfully chimed in, “Everyone knows you’re a bottom, honey!”

As the three sang together, both Yang and Grande became tearful, eventually leading to an emotional hug as Yang cried.

Earlier that night, Yang joined his Wicked: For Good co-star Grande for a parody of Mariah Carey’s legendary song “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” now cleverly titled “What Do I Get for Christmas for This Dude,” which humorously addressed the challenges of holiday gift-giving.

The news that Yang would depart SNL after its annual Christmas special, featuring Grande as host and Cher as musical guest, broke on Friday, December 19.

Before the show, Yang penned a heartfelt farewell message reflecting on his SNL experience, recalling his entrance during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 and expressing gratitude for the lessons he learned, such as “the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.”

“I’m thankful for every moment spent there. I discovered a lot about myself (terrible with wigs), about others (generous, vulnerable, attractive), and that human mistakes can be nothing but correct,” he reflected. “I learned that comedy often hinges on logistics and will predominantly fail until it succeeds, which is the besssst.”

Yang expressed gratitude to his friends at SNL, stating: “Thanks to everyone who showed up there: friends, coworkers, audiences, and hosts … A heartfelt thank you to every cast member for bringing me both laughter and tears.”

Speculation regarding Yang’s departure heightened back in May when he was spotted nostalgically dancing with fellow cast member Sarah Sherman during the season 50 finale’s goodnights segment.

However, Yang ultimately opted to return for season 51, citing encouragement from SNL creator Lorne Michaels to remain.

“I’ve always followed the instinct of whether I have more to offer, and I feel like I do,” Yang told People in September. “Even Lorne and I discussed it, and Lorne said, ‘You have more to do,’ which meant a lot, especially since I had expressed my concerns about possibly wearng out my welcome with the audience. He reassured me that wasn’t the case and that there’s more for me to contribute.”

Yang continued, “I must honor that. That man has transformed my life, and I owe much of it to that show. I love working there; the people are the best. I care for each of them deeply.”

Before his exit, Yang missed an SNL season 51 episode in October to receive the Vantage Award at a gala hosted by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

Saturday Night Live is set to return on NBC January 17, 2026, at 11:30 p.m. ET, featuring Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard as host and ASAP Rocky as musical guest.