Bowen Yang is issuing an apology that’s one for the history books—or maybe the blooper reel—after he and Ariana Grande locked lips in a wildly unexpected moment on Saturday Night Live. Apparently, things got a little too…well, let’s just say “passionate,” and now Bowen is feeling the need to clear the air.
ICYMI, Ariana hosted SNL on October 12 and had a grand old time. In one of the sketches, she and Bowen shared a smooch that left both the audience and, evidently, Ariana herself, a bit, shall we say, “flabbergasted.”
Bowen decided to revisit the unforgettable lip-lock on his Las Culturistas podcast and, in true Bowen fashion, started with a heartfelt, borderline formal apology: “Ariana, I really have to apologize to you in person,” he said, possibly while clutching a single rose. “I opened my mouth way too much when we kissed on SNL.” This isn’t your typical “sorry I was late” or “my bad for finishing your last slice of pizza” kind of apology—no, this is next-level stuff.
Ariana, never one to let a golden moment pass, fired back with a sly grin: “You absolutely did. I was shaking after.” Before you imagine her calling a therapist, she clarified: “I don’t mean that in a bad way. Just in a disarming way.” Ah yes, nothing says “mildly horrifying yet also charming” like being so shocked by a kiss that your brain briefly exits the building.
Bowen, not one to let a chance for drama slip by, insisted, “I kissed you too much.” This wasn’t exactly the romantic confession the movies would have you believe, but it was a solid moment for anyone who’s accidentally made a peck feel like a scene from a rom-com.
As it turns out, the kiss wasn’t in the script at all! Ariana just thought, “Hey, wouldn’t it be funny if we kissed here?” Meanwhile, on the other side of New York, Bowen had the exact same thought and texted her. It was like a bizarre, telepathic meeting of the minds, except the minds decided to meet in each other’s mouths.
Like the professionals they are, Ariana and Bowen had what he described as a “very grown-up conversation” about the logistics of the kiss. I mean, they’re basically professors in Advanced Kissing Theory now. Not only that, they practiced the kiss before the live show. This is a level of prep usually reserved for Broadway actors and synchronized swimmers.
Despite all the laughs, Ariana assured Bowen that she wasn’t actually offended by his…enthusiasm. “It felt like what these people needed at that time,” she said, probably with a hand dramatically over her heart. “It felt like what these characters required. And I’m all for it.”
To close it all off, she threw in a casual, “For the characters, I think it was perfectly open.” That’s right: fully sanctioned, 100% character-driven mouth choreography approved by Ariana Grande herself.
Bowen Yang is now the proud owner of the most famous SNL apology since Pete Davidson’s “sorry for making Staten Island sound like a national park for raccoons.” And if you’re still wondering if this whole thing was over the top, just remember: they rehearsed the kiss.
