&34;You are one of the greats,&34; the comedian said of his former casmate, who just left &34;Saturday Night Live&34; after eight seasons. &34;You will go down

"You are one of the greats," the comedian said of his former casmate, who just left "Saturday Night Live" after eight seasons. "You will go down in history."

Bowen Yang speaks out after Heidi Gardner's surprising SNL exit: 'A true anchor on that show'

"You are one of the greats," the comedian said of his former casmate, who just left "Saturday Night Live" after eight seasons. "You will go down in history."

By Wesley Stenzel

September 10, 2025 3:37 p.m. ET

Bowen Yang and Heidi Gardner at the Television Academy in 2025. Credit:

Todd Williamson/NBC

- Bowen Yang addressed Heidi Gardner's recent departure from *Saturday Night Live* on his *Las Culturistas* podcast.

- The *Wicked* actor said that Garner would generously "take it upon herself to write pieces for other cast" members on *SNL*.

- He also recalled Gardner helping to lift the *SNL* team's spirits during the early days of the pandemic, praising her as "a truly beautiful person."

Bowen Yang is wishing Heidi Gardner well after her surprising departure from *Saturday Night Live*.

The comedian discussed his former castmate, who exited the show after eight seasons last month, on the latest episode of his *Las Culturistas* podcast alongside cohost Matt Rogers.

"You are one of the greats," Yang said of Gardner. "You will go down in history."

The *Wicked* actor went on to recall some of his favorite memories of his former colleague, noting that she was one of the cast members whom the *SNL* team trusted the most to write quality sketches on her own.**

Heidi Gardner and Bowen Yang on 'Saturday Night Live'.

Will Heath/NBC via Getty

"It's always a very, very vulnerable thing as a cast member to put only your name on it," Yang said. "But anytime you saw just 'Gardner,' you knew you were in good hands. She would take it upon herself to write pieces for other cast."

Yang explained that Gardner once wrote a "Weekend Update" segment for Punkie Johnson, who departed the show in 2024. "It was one of the most beautiful, kindest gestures I've ever seen at that show, and her heart was so big, and clearly so f‑‑‑ing funny," Yang said. "A true anchor on that show."

The comedian also said that Gardner helped the cast and crew lift their spirits during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. "[She was] one of the first people who was just like, 'Okay, just to get through this, let's just each wake up, no rush, there's no time limit — let's just each text each other every day, something that made us smile today,'" Yang recalled. "And that was this foothold that I had emotionally in terms of knowing we were just sharing music and — just a truly beautiful person."

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Devon Walker explains calling 'Saturday Night Live' 'toxic' after exit: 'We're human beings'

Yang also addressed Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow, who all exited the *SNL* cast ahead of season 51.

"Shout out Devon, Emil, Michael Longfellow," he said. "They were fantastic comedians going in. They are fantastic comedians coming out. Those are some A+ gems."

The *Wedding Banquet* actor also confirmed that he will return to *SNL* for its upcoming season. "I am thrilled to go back," Yang said. "I will miss the people who are not coming back very, very much."

Gardner has yet to publicly address her exit. The other three outgoing cast members all made bittersweet social media posts about moving on from the show.

Heidi Gardner on 'Saturday Night Live'.

Walker, who was on *SNL* for three seasons, acknowledged that working on the show sometimes presented challenges. "Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell," he wrote on Instagram. "But… we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f‑‑‑ed up lil family."

Wakim, who only performed on the show for one season, discussed his disappointment to depart the series. "It was a gut punch of a call to get but i'm so grateful for my time there," he wrote. "Every time I scanned into the building I would think how insane it is to get to work there. It was the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience of my life and I will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home."

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Longfellow, who worked on *SNL* for three seasons, also expressed dismay at leaving the show. "Will not be returning for a 4th season at *SNL*. Wish I was but, so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far," he wrote. "I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience and everyone there. Lorne [Michaels'], you gave me the greatest job in the world and changed my life. You even put my mom on TV. Thank you doesnt begin to cover it, but thank you."

Listen to Yang discuss Gardner's *SNL* exit in the podcast episode above.

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