Bowen Yang appears upset by Dave Chappelle’s cameo in tense SNL closing segment

Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images; Shutterstock

The gay cast member appeared less than pleased to share the stage with the controversial comedian known for making transphobic comments.

Christopher Wiggins

Christopher Wiggins is The Advocate’s senior national reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the intersection of public policy and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, including The White House, U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and federal agencies. He has written multiple cover story profiles for The Advocate’s print magazine, profiling figures like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, longtime LGBTQ+ ally Vice President Kamala Harris, and ABC Good Morning America Weekend anchor Gio Benitez. Wiggins is committed to amplifying untold stories, especially as the second Trump administration’s policies impact LGBTQ+ (and particularly transgender) rights, and can be reached at christopher.wiggins@equalpride.com or on BlueSky at cwnewser.bsky.social; whistleblowers can securely contact him on Signal at cwdc.98.

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Christopher Wiggins

January 29 2024 4:20 PM EST

January 29 2024 5:34 PM EST

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On this past weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live, which saw Dakota Johnson as the host and Justin Timberlake as the musical guest, a surprise appearance by comedian Dave Chappelle during the closing goodnights sparked a noticeable reaction from cast members, especially Bowen Yang.

Chappelle was not part of the episode’s cast or sketches and unexpectedly joined the stage during SNL’s signature “goodbyes” moment at the end of the show. The appearance was peculiar as Chappelle had previously faced backlash for his comments about the LGBTQ+ community, particularly his self-identification as a trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) and the content of his Netflix specials, which were widely criticized for attacking the LGBTQ+ and disabled communities.

Bowen standing as far away from Chappelle as possible at #SNL goodnights
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Yang, an out gay cast member, appeared visibly uncomfortable with Chappelle’s presence, standing as far away as possible from him on the opposite side of the stage and toward the back. The reaction was highlighted by Yang’s expression, which seemed less than pleased, and his conversation with fellow cast member Sarah Sherman. After being alerted by Yang, Sherman glanced over at Chappelle and then patted Yang on the back in what appeared to be a supportive gesture.

The discomfort might also stem from a previous episode hosted by Chappelle in the last season, where Yang, Sherman, and non-binary castmate Molly Kearney did participate in the sketches but were noticeably absent from the goodnight segment, leading to speculation about whether their absence was a silent protest against Chappelle’s hosting.