Bowen Yang Misses SNL Taping for Academy Award Ceremony

NEW YORK, NY — Bowen Yang, popular cast member of Saturday Night Live, will miss tonight’s taping of the show to accept the Vantage Award at the Academy Museum‘s gala in Los Angeles. Yang confirmed his absence via Instagram, stating, “missing the show tonight but it will be sooooo fun, Sab is amazing,” referring to host Sabrina Carpenter.

The Vantage Award honors emerging artists who challenge dominant narratives in television and film. Yang is recognized for his contributions to comedy and representation in the media, making him a fitting recipient. This year’s gala will also honor actors Penélope Cruz and Bruce Springsteen, among others.

While Yang won’t be present for the live show, he has contributed to the writing process for tonight’s episode and will appear in a pre-taped sketch, which is typical for SNL cast members with scheduling conflicts. This will be only the second time in his tenure that he missed the live show due to an external event.

Yang, known for his role on Weekend Update, has made headlines in the past for portraying former Congressman George Santos. With recent political developments, Santos has been in the news after being released from prison, following a prison sentence for wire fraud.

Tonight’s episode of SNL features Sabrina Carpenter making her hosting debut, following her appearance as a musical guest last season. The show airs at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and streams on Peacock.