The 35-year-old actor and podcast host became visibly emotional during his final sketch, in which he played a Delta One Lounge employee with a broken eggnog machine alongside the episode’s host, Ariana Grande, and musical guest Cher.
The final sketch served as the perfect send-off for Bowen, who announced his mid-season departure on Dec. 20.
Ariana portrayed a nostalgic family member, reminiscing and singing with him over the phone, paying homage to Bowen’s writing and sketch performances.
When Ariana’s character, Rhonda, eventually joined him to finish their song, that’s when it became clear that Bowen was struggling to hold back the tears through the occasional jokes.
Bowen took the opportunity through his character to thank all his coworkers for their support.
After shouting out his boss, the supervisor appeared, played by Cher, obviously representing Bowen’s real-life SNL boss, Lorne Michaels.
Bowen was on SNL for about eight seasons. He first joined as a writer in 2019, eventually became the first Chinese American repertory player in SNL history, and the third openly gay man.
As clichéd as it may be, representation matters. For me, watching someone like Bowen being so unapologetically himself (which is very gay and always online) was inspiring and a breath of fresh air. Thanks, Bowen.
It’s easy to say that throughout the SNL episode, Bowen shared moments that were definitely emotional, but the final sketch really resonated with everyone. Here’s what some people were saying:
“This legit made me sad.. Bowen trying not to cry early on. I hope he still shows up every once in a while but all the best to him with his future projects.”
“If this sketch didn’t make you cry, you have no soul. What a bittersweet yet perfect send off, onward to your next adventure Bowen!”
“At the Delta One Lounge now, crying into our eggnog. Cheers to you being brave enoguh to achieve a dream and start new a dream.”
“The fact you got two gay icons both young and old to farewell this gentleman whos made a lasting impact on LGBT and Asian representation in comedy … absolute beauty, cinema… Cher and Arianas show, but Bowen made this moment his. Farewell and best of luck good sir.”
“He’s the best thing to happen to SNL in along time. He saved that show and every time I saw him I’d smile because I knew even if the skit sucked, he was going to make me laugh. What a loss.”
“That is BY FAR the best goodbye sketch any cast member has ever had. Ari, Cher?! Goodbye to his faves? So cool. Congrats Bowen, you deserve the world.”
“An important human… Bowen represents the best in America and humanity.”
Watching this live, I genuinely got emotional. Bowen, you have no idea how much we will miss you
“this was a cute way to say pay homage to bowen for his work on snl. well that was emotional.”
“Bowen learned from Cecily that leaving alone in Christmas gets you a proper send off and I’m happy for him, I wish we had a proper send off for Ego and Heidi”