It looks like we’re about to say goodbye to two more of our favorite characters from Grey’s Anatomy. Just today, news broke of Sarah Drew and Jessica Capshaw’s impending departures from ABC’s hit medical drama. Capshaw has been on the show for 10 years, nine of those as a series regular playing Dr. Arizona Robbins; Drew has been on the show for nine years, eight of them as a series regular playing Dr. April Kepner.
Producers of the show enter renegotiations with actors at the beginning of each season, and sources say that Capshaw and Drew will be the only series regular cast members of Grey’s departing this year.
Showrunner Krista Vernoff released a statement to Deadline Hollywood.
“The characters of Arizona and April are permanently woven into the fabric of Grey’s Anatomy thanks to the extraordinary work of Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew,” Vernoff said. “As writers, our job is to follow the stories where they want to go and sometimes that means saying goodbye to characters we love. It has been a joy and a privilege to work with these phenomenally talented actresses.”
And from the boss-lady Shonda Rhimes:
“It’s always hard for me to say goodbye to any of my characters,” Rhimes said. “Both Arizona Robbins and April Kepner are not only beloved but iconic — both the LBGTQ and devout Christian communities are underrepresented on TV. I will be forever grateful to both Jessica and Sarah for bringing these characters to life with such vibrant performance and for inspiring women around the globe. They will always be a part of our Shondaland family.”
Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew both took to Twitter today to express their gratitude for the show.
Drew’s full statement: “Hey guys. Thank you for all the love. I know you’re sad. I’m sad too. I haven’t really had the time to process this information. I’ve been with it for less than 48 hours, so I’m not ready to say my thank yous and give an all encompassing statement about my 9 years here. That will come later :) For now, I’d like to say: I love you, and I love April, and her story isn’t over yet. And the really good news (for me, at least) is that I’m here on set shadowing one of my favorite people, Kevin McKidd, with my beloved Greys family all this week and next, so I get to process all of my feelings surrounded by the community that has nourished and nurtured me for almost a decade. For that, I am so grateful. Much love, Sarah”
For now, we’re going to bask in the time we have left with two of our favorite docs. If Shondaland has taught me one thing, it’s that saying goodbye isn’t always a bad thing. But it probably will make you cry. A lot.