Ariana Grande expressed heartfelt gratitude as she witnessed Bowen Yang‘s farewell performance on Saturday Night Live in person.

“Words can’t fully capture how much I adore you and how proud I am of the eggnog you’ve concocted over the years,” shared Grande, 32, on her Instagram Stories on Sunday, December 21. She posted a video clip of Yang, 35, taking part in his final sketch on the live show.

She added, “Being there for your farewell meant more than I can express. Wishing you all the best, my wonderfully talented friend.”

Grande took on the role of host for the SNL episode on Saturday, December 20, marking Yang’s last appearance as a cast member.

During the October 12 episode of Saturday Night Live, Grande, 31, joined forces with her Wicked co-star Bowen Yang, showcasing their close friendship. This was Grande’s second time hosting the iconic show, having first hosted in 2016, and she highlighted her lasting connection with Yang, 33. (Grande and Yang, naturally, […]

“I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people,” Yang wrote in a lengthy Instagram statement hours before the show. “I was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 Rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.”

The comedian added, “I’m grateful for every minute of my time there. I learned about myself (bad with wigs). I learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot). I learned that human error can be nothing but correct. I learned that comedy is mostly logistics and that it will usually fail until it doesn’t, which is the besssst.”

Yang, who joined SNL in 2017 as a writer one year before joining the cast, also offered his gratitude to Grande in his statement.

“Thank you to Ari for sending me off in the dreamiest way I could imagine,” Yang concluded. “The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready, but s***, I hope I am.”

To close out the show, Yang starred in a holiday travel-themed sketch with Grande and musical guest Cher.

“I can’t believe you’re retiring,” Grande’s character mused, to which Yang subsequently replied, “I just wanted to go out on top!”

The number ended with the trio hugging before Yang burst into tears.

Yang and Grande initially bonded while playing school friends in the Wicked film adaptations.

“I’ve learned so many things from Ariana Grande. I’ve learned about overcoming things,” Yang told Esquire earlier this month. “I lost a sense of myself while we were shooting Wicked because it was just the back-to-back work of doing SNL and then going to London for Wicked and then doing SNL again and going to London. It really unmoored me, and Ari very gently brought me back to shore.”

Saturday Night Live wrapped season 49 and kicked off its hallmark season 50 in 2024, delivering a slew of viral cameos and sketches along the way. Perhaps the most viral SNL moment of the year occurred in October when guest host Ariana Grande appeared in a wedding reception sketch, singing a cover of Sabrina Carpenter’s […]

Grande also had a blast making Wicked with Yang.

“I have a video of him with his pink cap over your hair ‘cause we weren’t ready to film yet with your little clips in,” Grande recalled during a November 2024 episode of Yang’s “La Culturistas” podcast. “He’s half in wardrobe, half in some cute Bowen thing, and he’s like, what does Madame Morrible say, ‘Alright, fine I’m gay, Shiz, but I don’t want that to be the most interesting thing about me.’ I’ve watched that 300 times.”

Saturday Night Live returns to NBC Saturday, January 14, at 11:30 p.m. ET with host Finn Wolfhard and musical guest ASAP Rocky.