Bowen Yang Taking a Break Due to 'Bad Bouts of Depersonalization'

Actor, comedian, and podcaster Bowen Yang, star of Saturday Night Live (SNL) and Hulu’s Fire Island, made the decision to prioritize his mental health by taking a step back from his popular podcast Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers.

The 32-year-old comedian recently revealed on his Instagram Story that he will be temporarily pausing the podcast, writing:

"Taking a very short break from [Las Culturistas]. Bad bouts of depersonalization are f*cking me up bad, but I am doing my best to get better! Please take care, be soon."

Depersonalization, as described by the Mayo Clinic, is a psychological condition in which individuals frequently experience a sense of detachment from their own bodies and perceive their surroundings as unreal. This condition can significantly impact one's mental well-being.

Yang has been co-hosting Las Culturistas alongside Rogers since 2016, engaging in hilarious discussions about significant moments in pop culture with celebrity guests.

Previously, Yang told People that he was sent to gay conversion therapy as a teenager, which created a vast divide between him and his parents. Reflecting on this experience, he said, "There was a huge chasm of misunderstanding... It pushed me into questioning what it meant, what was protected, and what I should be protective about in terms of being a queer person. I don't take it for granted."

Being the first Chinese-American actor on SNL and one of its first out gay stars, Yang recognized the responsibility but emphasized the need for humility, stating:

"If I ever put pressure on myself to represent in any meaningful way for Asian people, then that would just get in my way in terms of thinking that I am destined to speak on behalf of multiple people."