Bowen Yang has publicly apologized to Ariana Grande for a kiss that occurred during a sketch on Saturday Night Live last month, which got “a bit out of hand.” Yang, 34, addressed the moment during an appearance on his Las Culturistas podcast, where he hosts alongside comedian Matt Rogers.
“I really have to apologize to you. I opened my mouth up too much when we kissed on SNL.”
In the sketch, Yang played Josh, a man meeting his boyfriend’s family for the first time during a chaotic game night, while Grande played Diane, the mother. The scene included a physical altercation between the two, which eventually ended with a kiss.
Grande, who has built a reputation as a consummate professional, clarified that the kiss wasn’t part of the original script. Instead, it was an idea that she and Yang both independently came up with, and after initially brushing it off as “insane and too comfortable,” Grande dismissed it. However, Yang later texted her with the same suggestion, which they both decided to include in the sketch.
Although the kiss was not planned, Grande shared that she was unbothered by the moment, emphasizing her comfort and professionalism in the situation.
“But I kissed you too much,” Yang reiterated, but Grande wasn’t having his apology.
“We were really dropped in and it felt like that these people needed at the time. It felt like what these characters required,” she continued. “And I’m all for it!”
Despite this, Yang felt the need to apologize for the kiss going further than intended, acknowledging that it may have been awkward for Grande.
