Bowen Yang, a beloved cast member of Saturday Night Live, recently expressed his regret over the exaggerated kiss he shared with Wicked star Ariana Grande during an SNL sketch.
The pair discussed the incident on the popular Las Culturistas podcast, hosted by Matt Rogers, where they reflected on their experience during the skit.
Deadline detailed the skit, which featured Yang playing the boyfriend of Grande’s son as they met for the first time amidst a lively game of charades.
As tensions mounted during the game, Yang threw a playful yet biting insult at Grande, igniting a competitive fire within her. In retaliation, Grande shot back with a sharp jab that included a tongue-in-cheek comment about Yang’s private parts, escalating the humorous animosity.
The rivalry between the two characters intensified as the insults became increasingly outrageous, culminating in a moment that took everyone by surprise.
During a rehearsal, Grande amusingly contemplated, “How funny would it be if we kissed at the end?” as she later shared, although she initially kept this thought to herself. Page Six reported her reflections on the matter. Meanwhile, Yang had the same playful idea and decided to text Grande, who eagerly embraced it.
The resulting kiss, however, turned out to be a bit more dramatic than they had both anticipated, mirroring the humorous spirit of the skit itself. Yang candidly admitted during the Las Culturistas podcast, “I really have to apologize to you in person… I opened up my mouth too much when we kissed on SNL.” Vulture reported his confession to Grande.
Grande playfully chimed in, “You absolutely did. I was shaking after,” adding, “Not in a bad way. Just in a disarming way,” highlighting the surprising nature of their unexpected moment.
Later in the discussion, Grande reframed her feelings about the kiss, suggesting it was perfectly appropriate for the characters they portrayed: “For the characters, I think it was perfectly open.”
For those curious to see the memorable moment for themselves, you can catch the four-minute sketch here.
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**Interview with Bowen Yang about his Apology to Ariana Grande Following SNL Sketch**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Bowen! Thanks for joining us today. Now, you recently apologized to Ariana Grande after that memorable kiss on SNL. Can you tell us more about what happened?
**Bowen Yang:** Thanks for having me! Yes, it was quite the moment. During our sketch, it started off as this playful competition with our characters, and Ariana and I were just trying to outdo each other with these funny insults. Then, in the heat of the moment, we both thought it would be hilarious to add a kiss at the end.
**Interviewer:** In hindsight, it sounds like it escalated quickly! What did you think when the moment actually happened during the performance?
**Bowen Yang:** Oh, it was definitely more dramatic than either of us expected! I guess I got a little carried away in the excitement, and I may have gone in a bit too eagerly. It was funny, but looking back, I felt it was a bit over the top, so I wanted to make sure I apologized to Ariana.
**Interviewer:** That’s very gracious of you! How did Ariana react to the kiss during the sketch? Was there any spontaneous banter after the scene wrapped?
**Bowen Yang:** She laughed it off, which is a testament to how great she is as a performer. She’s super fun to work with, and she had her own amusing takes on it. Afterward, we both reflected on our character dynamics and how that kiss, while unexpected, made our interaction even more memorable.
**Interviewer:** It seems like the sketch was really well-received! How do you think the audience reacted to that twist in the skit?
**Bowen Yang:** Honestly, the audience loved it! The element of surprise really worked in our favor, and I think it perfectly captured the playful spirit of SNL. It’s all about taking risks and pushing boundaries, and I think we both managed to do that in a fun way, even if it was a bit chaotic!
**Interviewer:** And how do you feel about being part of such a spontaneous moment on live television?
**Bowen Yang:** It’s exhilarating! Live TV is unpredictable, which can lead to some amazing, unscripted moments. I think that’s what makes SNL so special—the chance to embrace spontaneity and humor, even if it means I have to apologize sometimes!
**Interviewer:** That’s a great perspective to have! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Bowen. We can’t wait to see what other memorable sketches you create on SNL!
**Bowen Yang:** Thank you! I’m excited to keep the fun going and hopefully create more laugh-out-loud moments!
