As Saturday’s host, Grande appeared in Yang’s final sketch after six and a half seasons as a cast member.

Ariana Grande reacts to Bowen Yang’s tearful SNL exit: ‘I love you more than words can say’

As Saturday's host, Grande appeared in Yang's final sketch after six and a half seasons as a cast member.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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December 21, 2025 6:07 p.m. ET

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Ariana Grande and Bowen Yang on 'Saturday Night Live'. Credit:

Ariana Grande is sad to see Bowen Yang leaving *Saturday Night Live* like the rest of us.

The pop mainstay has lately struck up a close friendship with her *Wicked *costar, who confirmed before Saturday's new episode of the long-running sketch comedy series that after six and a half seasons, he's departing for greener pastures.

Grande fittingly hosted the episode in a diva-off with musical guest Cher, both of whom shared the stage with Yang in his last on-air sketch in the main cast. But it wasn't enough: on Sunday morning, she posted a heartfelt tribute to the comedian on her Instagram Stories, writing, "I love you more than words can say and i am just so very proud of you and all of the eggnog you've made over the years."

Ariana Grande shouts out Bowen Yang on Instagram.

Ariana Grande/Instagram

Grande authored her tribute over a clip of that final sketch, in which Yang, Grande, and Cher called upon the powers of comedy and song to close out his memorable tenure.

"It meant more than words can say to have been there for your send off last night," Grande continued in her tribute. "Happy trails my brilliant and beautiful friend."

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"Delta Lounge" cast Yang in the type of role familiar to fans of his work on *SNL —* a sardonic, slightly jaded man slinging eggnog (and zippy one-liners) in a Delta Airlines airport lounge. Grande played his sweet-as-apple-pie wife, and Cher his boss, who unite at the lounge on Yang's character's tearful last day, after he's already issued some meta goodbyes to passengers played by Kenan Thompson and Jane Wickline.

"It's sad. I'm gonna miss everything about this place. The way it smells, the celebrities who would come through," Yang somberly noted between snippets of a duet with Grande.********

Bowen Yang bursts into tears in final 'SNL' episode as Cher comforts him

Cher accused of lip-syncing during 'SNL' performance

Grande is fast becoming an *SNL *favorite, having appeared twice on the show last year (once as a musical guest, once as the host), with an additional hosting appearance in 2014 and a musical guesting spot in 2016.

Yang, meanwhile, leaves *SNL *amid a wave of beloved cast member exits. First came Heidi Gardner, who announced her departure in August after eight seasons, and then came Ego Nwodim, who broke the news she's leaving the following month after a seven-season tenure.

"I'm grateful for every minute of my time there," Yang said of his decision to leave on Saturday. "I learned about myself (bad with wigs). I learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot). I learned that human error can be nothing but correct. I learned that comedy is mostly logistics and that it will usually fail until it doesn't, which is the besssst."

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