Bowen Yang pays emotional tribute to Heidi Gardner
Bowen Yang heartbroken over Heidi Gardner’s sudden exit from 'Saturday Night Live'
Bowen Yang, best known as the first Chinese-American cast member on Saturday Night Live, has broken his silence on Heidi Gardner’s shock exit from the show.
The 34-year-old, now one of the programme’s most recognisable faces, addressed the latest wave of brutal cast cuts on his hit podcast Las Culturistas, where he revealed his heartbreak over her departure.
Gardner, who first joined SNL in 2017, was the longest-serving performer to be shown the door ahead of series 51.
“You are one of the greats. You will go down in history,” Yang said, hailing the 42-year-old comic as a rare talent who could craft sketches entirely on her own.
He recalled how she once wrote a moving piece for former castmate Punkie Johnson, describing it as “one of the most beautiful, kind gestures” he had ever witnessed on the show.
Furthermore, Yang also praised the comic actress's kindness off-screen, remembering how she kept the cast’s spirits alive during the lonely early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Her heart was so big, and clearly so f***ing funny,” he added.
Gardner’s shock departure, announced earlier this month, has sparked outrage among fans, with furious viewers even calling for NBC to cancel SNL altogether after the latest mass exodus.
Why did Heidi Gardner leave SNL?
Gardner revealed on Craig Ferguson’s podcast earlier this year that sketch fatigue had started to wear her down.
“I’ve written a lot of sketches… it’s been a little tough creatively,” she admitted, hinting that her departure was as much about self-care as career moves.
