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Link to original content: http://tvline.com/2012/06/01/greys-anatomy-chyler-leigh-explains-exit/
Following two weeks of radio silence, actress Chyler Leigh has come forth to clear the air about her shocking departure from Grey’s Anatomy, which killed off Lexie Grey in the Season 8 finale.
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“Earlier this year, I made the decision that Season 8 would be my last,” Leigh shares in an exclusive statement to TVLine. “I met with [series creator] Shonda [Rhimes] and we worked together to give Lexie’s story appropriate closure.”
Leigh, who joined Grey’s full-time in Season 4 after introducing us to Lexie at the close of Season 3, was partly MIA from the start of the show’s most recent season, after Rhimes granted her an extended summer hiatus to spend time with her family. (Leigh and husband Nathan West have three children, ages 8, 5-1/2 and 3.)
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The night that the Grey’s finale aired, Rhimes went on Twitter to explain, among other things, that killing off Lexie “was not an easy decision. But it was a decision that Chyler and I came to together. We had a lot of thoughtful discussion about it and ultimately we both decided this was the right time for her character’s journey to end.”
Leigh’s full statement appears below; give it a read and share your new, illuminated thoughts on the actress — and Lexie’s — exit.
“Earlier this year, I made the decision that Season eight would be my last on “Grey’s Anatomy.” I met with Shonda and we worked together to give Lexie’s story appropriate closure. I am very lucky to have worked with this amazing cast and crew for five seasons. My experience on “Grey’s Anatomy” is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I want to take this time to say thank you to the fans. Your unconditional love and support have made these last five years very special for me. I look forward to my next chapter and I hope you will continue to follow me on my journey.”
Watch Spoiler Alert! for scoop and theories on the Grey’s spin-off’s big exit:
… that clears things up.
Except it doesn’t
Vague!
I love Chyler and Lexie was my favorite character. I’m still not over her death but I’m also excited about seeing Chyler in other roles
I’m with you!!! I LOVED LEXIE _ MY FAV! We’ll miss you Lexie!
I agree that Lexie will be missed terribly! I hate that she was killed off before Sloan got to tell her that he was in love with her. But, since we know that it’s all good. You will be missed!!!
did u even watch the finale? he did tell her he loved her before she died.
Yes, he did tell Lexie that he was in love with her before she died. I think a few people missed that part. She died knowing she he loved her <3
Dang spell correct! Suppose to be “he” not she he….lol, my bad.
I loved Chyler also!, and i was very emotional that night of the finale! I was shocked to see that she was dying and now knowing that was her exit from the show, it makes me even more sad!
Good luck Chyler in your future endeavors!
2 of chyler’s kids have special needs. in a previous interview she said that it was hard handling their care and her career. So I believe that this has something to do with it. We might not see her act for some time… I wish her the best of luck!
Its understandable in that case, but still a loss for Grey’s and for the acting world in general…
What kinda special needs?
I WISH CHILER ALL THE BEST SHE WILL BE MISSED. BUT IF ITS FOR HER FAMILY I SEE HER LOVING HEART DOING WHAT EVER IS NEEDED . SHE WILL ALWAY HAVE A CAREER TO COME BACK TO SHE HAS ALOT OF TALENT, AND THAT WILL STAY. A MOTHERS LOVE IS MOST IMPORTANT. GODS SPEED TO YOU HELP CHILER.. WE WILL BE HERE WHEN YOU FIND TIME.
I’m with you too, I had high hopes that Lexie & Mark will get back together before she departed the show. I’m just a little disappointed Shonda, I thought the end should be Lexie & Mark get back together and Lexie takes a job in another city or somethin with Mark on long distant love affair.
That would have been a good one. That way it would open up Lexie comming back. I my self hated to see Lexie leave.
You know that life, as we all know it, doesn’t always turn out as we thought it to. As sad and heart-breaking as the season ended, it was real. Great job Shonda and the whole Grey’s Anatomy team.
Lily, Your scenerio has been done over and over. Think outside the box….and PLEASE leave the writing to the pro.
just a little rude to someone expressing their opinion. you think what you want and let other people think what they want .JEEZ
Yes because dying is the way yo go (never been done before) I think it’s a stupid way, everybody dies in this show… Where are the pro writers at you say? It’s obvious not Shonda….
Nothing wrong with wanting a happy ending Kat ….. Maybe you should leave your comments to the critics ? Just saying …..
Maybe the comment came off as a little rude but I have to agree with Kat. I hated to see Lexie go and I bawled the entire episode, but the emotion that we all took from Lexie’s final scene would not even compare to what we would have felt if she…relocated? They wrote the plane crash to affect all the characters and I think they wrote Lexie’s part great. Besides, how unrealistic would it have been if they ALL happened to survive this plane crash.
There are widely 2 big cop outs in writing: 1. At the end of the story it turned out to have all been a dream; and 2. The characters get killed off.
However I agree with Kat, having Lexi and Mark find their happy ending would be the most subservient and cliched ending to their story. It’s way more satisfying and compelling to have Mark carry around with him forever the fact that he lost the (potential) love of his life; this makes him a much more sympathetic and complex character than before.
Let’s not forget, Grey’s Anatomy is not a comedy ending in happiness for all; it’s a tragedy with a veil-thin silver lining.
So maybe not the leaving the city story. Like others are saying couldn’t we have at least seen Lexie and Mark be happy for a little while? And then she can die later?? I’m so upset they can’t be happy together now =(
I would have preferred if your comment was not sooo rude; you could have been
constructive and offered your version of what an out of the box-thinking-ending, would have
looked like. Your comment was certainly not out of the box, but a bit bully-like – and it’s been done over and over! Boring.
comment by Anne
I totally agree…Chyler would have had a chance to come back…even though she didn’t want to. It was a heartbreaking end.
I totally agree with all of you guys, It sucks!!! Why killing her? I found that very stupid, I really tought it was some kind of a joke, or a dream… or that she’ll wake up… whatever!
You know she’s not REALLY dead, right?
Umm…She EXITED the show. As in not coming back? Adding that to the part where her character was crushed by a plane and mourned over by Mark, Meredith and everyone else in the crash and what part of that screams “Not Dead” to you?
Probably the part where she says she will go on to work in other shows.
Maybe Mark just dreamed it. ;0)
The part where Denny died and came back. The part where the bomb guy was reduced to pink mist and came back. It’s Grey’s anything can happen. They could always have her guest star in some way or another if she would like.
I believe they meant in real life
While you are being so sarcastic about what SCREAMs dead to you.. I vaguely remember a whole year where Bobby Ewing was to be dead but he actually wasnt. The whole year of his being “dead” was a dream. This is soap land…anything can happen so stop being so REAL about everything…sheesh!!
Well, they had George O’Malley hit by a train and he died too. That was a shame. But I do agree with some people that sometimes we do get very “involved” with our shows and characters. And sometimes they just have to leave for personal reasons, or to make a change in their lives. Yes, we do hate losing the people we really like on the shows but that’s part of it.
O’Malley was hit by a bus saving a girl.
When people watch TV shows or read books, they tend to care about the characters. So, when they get killed off, they in turn tend to grieve for the characters demise. Quite a simple concept, really.
I agree, when watching TV shows or reading books, if they are good with great character development, then it seems real, even though we know it isn’t. That would be where the real entertainment comes in. Grey’s Anatomy did a great job with character development. It is sad that Lexie did “die” from the show but it was the actresses’ choice.
Well, spill the bean’s. Fill us in on this matter. It’s a must know!
Thankfully there’s at least 1 other person living in the real world.
Yes it sucks she wanted to leave the show. Her choice, people. Don’t blame it on ‘bad writing’ or who knows what else. Get over it or stop watching the show.
Cyler did not die, Lexie DID die. Her character has officially died and will not be returning.
What? What does that mean?
You know you’re not really correct, Reality Check-person. She is dead…I know it hard to
face reality and easier to believe others are off when your in denial; time will pass and you’ll
face the the truth…until then maybe get some counseling to help you deal with it.
Awww…I like the Lexxys’character.
Many people ,like me will miss her… :(
I was hoping they would kill off Meredith and keep Lexie as the new Grey for “Grey’s” Anatomy!
THAT IS THE STUPIDEST THING ANYONE CAN SAY…..MEREDITH IS THE SHOW
They cant eliminate meredith cause withuut meredith the show wouldnt excist, and besides, what about zola?, she would end up without a mother.
WTH if there’s no merideth there’s no fudging show
I agree! I loved Lexie and will miss her. I hope to see her on TV or the big screen!
Lexie was my favorite person on Grey’s. I cried when she died and I am still not over it!! Its not gonna be the same without her!!! Cant wait to see what Chyler does next
I was so sad when Lexie died laying under that plane.I had tears streaming down my cheeks it was so sad.I felt so bad for Mcsteamy,but he brought it on himself for treating her the way he did,and it took her death to make him relise he made a misake,a little too late!!Love you Lexie/Chyler good luck on your future ventures and with your family.
Brought him on himself….yes the plane crash he totally brought that on…and um correct me if I am wrong, but treating her like he did…he gave her like a hundred times to tell him and they were both apprehensive about it, not just Mark, None of us can say even in real life what our heart wants to every single time, neither could those characters.
Don’t hate on mark all he did was try to make his new relationship work because he thought lexie bated him…I loved lexie and when she died I cried so hard! Ill miss you chyler
I was so sad when lexie died…..i was like why!!! why her!….but all the best Chyler
I was really sad…i was even hoping that she’ll survived!
wishing you the best in your journey and hoping to see you again the best to your family, enjoy!!!!
I agree with you completely! Lexie was my favorite character by far on the show and! dont know how it will be without her and poor mark.
She doesn’t owe anyone any deep, intimate details. Her explanation was appropriate.
I absolutely agree! I feel relieved to hear her clear things up, she obviously has other plans and wants to do other things! As much as it hurts we have to accept it!
I am with you. I will miss Lexie…but good luck to Chyler Leigh in her future endevours.
i will miss u.. u play a very good role in greys anatomy …but anyways good luck…we love u chyler..
I agree! She really doesn’t have to explain in every detail how they came to that decision, her statement was classy and appropriate, no need to dig any deeper. I loved Lexie just as much as anyone else but if Chyler wants to exploit other things she should feel free to do so… it’s not like she’s leaving on a sour note like that snotty bitch Katherine Heighl.
don’t have to hate- Katherine is a great actress as well
Whats your problem Lisa?..calling names.I love Katherine H., and she is NOT a bitch.
As a mother I can understand Chyler leaving the show, the schedule can be grueling on an actor, kids grow so fast. She is a talented actress so I am sure there are many opportunities in the future.
Katherine Heigl did leave the show on a bitter note, and made many negitive comments about the show and the writers. I liked her character and it is sad that she burned that bridge and will never come back to the show, but I can understand why they don’t want her back and support shondra on that.
i agree with you i loved how Chyler came in to the show and im sad to see her go but i wish her the best for the future. and it was a much better exit then Katherine’s
WOW!!! Every one has one, an opinion and an A H…………..
P. S. Chyler wants to “explore” not “exploit” other things.
I WILL MISS SURELY MISS LEXIE. BUT HOW DO WE KNOW DRMCSTEAMY LIVED THROUGH IT!
Someone rescues the ones that are alive and then Mark dies back in the hospital. So no he didn’t live. Chandra Wilson (Bailey) in and interview said: Marks leaving will be bitter sweet with alot of crying and the other doc’s petting him and helping him pass into the next life.
Wow, Lisa, what’s up with the hating on Katherine Heighl? – jealousy?? The part she played
was not a bitch. Do you often put down women who strive to further there career by being
brave enough to voice theimselves and stand up to make a move they want – not what you
want her to do – but what she wants to do?
I agree. Its not our business what she decides to do! That said..we will def miss little Grey. She was one of my faves….but can’t wait to see her amazing talent and her new journey!!
I second that Alica…would fans really hate her for whatever reason she chose to leave?
Everyone’s life is a play…do you ask your supporting actors if it’s okay for you to make a
change, and only make it if they give you permission? Would you really want her to continue playing a part that didn’t allow her to experience happiness in her real life story? How sad and
tragic that would be.
Be thankful that you found a character you loved – for whatever reason – and bless her on her journey and her strength to move onto whatever she needs to find her happiness.
Thank you little Grey – best to you and all that you endeavor!
absolutely!
Totally agree. Often times characters are drug out and you tire and bore with the same ole same ole.. Although dramatic and I totally didn’t expect it, whatever. It’s TV people, it’s not real life. Sadly, I believe, REALity TV is taking over and shows like this, that are really good (fictional) shows and one of my favs (insert small tribute to the farewell of HOUSE and DH), are a dying breed. The character, Lexie, was an awesome addition (Side note: I would’ve like to see if SHE would pass the boards) but, personally, she’s just a person with a family and like so many other Mothers (like yours truly) would love to spend more time with her children before you blink and your’e planning their wedding! Her “explanation” which I don’t even think was necessary, was completely and utterly appropriate and quite honestly, more than anyone deserved.
I agree with you about the fictional shows! I watch those types of shows and not reality TV. One of my favorite things about TV is it lets you escape real life for just a while and it is truly entertainment. Good books offer the same thing and I truly hope that fictional shows do not become a thing of the past because then I will no longer be watching TV!!!!
I agree. She probably wants to spend more time with her family and would like to explore other acting opportunities. Will miss her character though :o)
I agree. But what more can we expect? We can’t know what will happen to Mark, if he will be around or not (IMO if Eric Dane is out, Shonda could have had them leave together, happy and starting a family somewhere else; if Eric isn’t out this was the only possibility so I think Mark will survive) and she clearly doesn’t want to add anything else. She just decided she wanted to leave and do something else. Too bad for us, I loved Lexie, but what can you do about it? In the end it’s better to make the decision yourself than to get fired while you wanted and expected to keep the job (like Tim Daly?). Good luck to Chyler, her family and her career!
Could you have left the acting door open to return as a guest?
She can always come back for a visit. Lexie wouldn’t be the first ghost to pop up in Seattle Grace.
I could not agree more, and I read that Schonda had to cut her out to pay more money to the top
Give me a Break, they make 50K or more an episode, while the rest of Americans are struggling
Lexie did not stand a chance. It was Schonda’s decision.
and Greys is gone for me …..I will find another fav show and let Greys kill itself off.
We loved you Lexie.We really did
Hope you find happiness that you so deserve
Read where? Name your sources. Just because some angery fans start making accusations on a blog doesn’t make it true. She already asked for time off earlier in the year to be with her family. It’s not that hard to believe that she would decide to stop after this season.
It does crack me up, DJ, when people believe what they read about other people when they will never even come close to knowing the absolute truth. Why would you want to let your beliefs hang on an idea that may not be true? Wouldn’t it be healthier to realize that nobody needs to be blamed for life moving on? It just does.
I agree to and that she would come back to Mark in a later season
Yes, Kath, Mark will probabyly die and little Angel Grey, will come back to usher him into the light.
I too, will miss Lexie. Speaking of Mark, he hasn’t been looking well to me the past few shows. Looks like he’s sick, wonder if he’s next to leave GA?
I thought the exact same thing! There was one episode where he looked really terrible and the next, he looked fine again.
I have thought that Mark has gotten awfully thin and wondered if he is okay.
It’s clear that she left due to some circumstances in her life. It doesn’t seem like all is well in her life right now, which is why I’m guessing her exit was permenant.
If you are 30-years old and have three children under the age of nine, and prefer to spend more of your time with your kids during their formative years rather than working 12-hour days, sometimes six days a week, shooting a television series, I’d say your head is screwed on right and all IS well in your life right now.
How can anybody be confused about this?
Thanks for saying all is right for a 30 year old woman with kids those ages, because that’s me and my kids so I applaud her for being willing to adjust her life to do what she feels are her top priorities. I wish her the best.
I agree… I’m 32 with a 13, 11 and 8yr old. Working 12 hrs would never work for me. At least we know since Meredith & Derek signed a 2 yr contract Grey’s won’t end!!!!! I still will miss Lexie and wanted to see her & Mark together so bad!
Just because they signed two years contracts doesn’t mean Greys will continue for two years.
Amen sister! Exactly my thoughts!!!
I think it does. We don’t know exactly what Chyler may have told Shonda about leaving Grey’s, but it evidently wasn’t anything that left the door open for a possible return.later. So Shonda had two options apparently: write Lexie out permanently or hire another actress to play her. The latter obviously wouldn’t have worked, so she did what she had to do.
Now, who else on that plane hasn’t signed a new contract?
As far as I know all the remaining actors/actresses have renewed their contracts. So hopefully there are no more deaths.
Ugh, exactly!
Can someone explain to me the point of Lexie telling Mark 2 episodes before that she loves him? Why put that in if you’re just going to kill her off? Pointless.
Shonda’s poor taste has allowed me to take Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice off of my ‘to watch’ list for the fall.
One word ….. drama!!
Yes!!!! I quit watching a LONG time ago!!!
then why are you reading articles and commenting on the show?
Exactly–why comment, your obviously still interested. Shonda had “Lexi” tell Mark she loved him for our suspence of course. It kept us intrigued and her death was a total shock, the drama of the show keeps us watching. Why would anyone be mad with that. Its not always a happy ending people.
I think that was her lines to say at that moment to build up things which would never be. Yes that is drama good drama. going to miss you Lexie.
Jeez…is this your first time watching TV ever? Shows do that all the time. It’s called Drama. Shonda is not the first writer to do this nor will she be the last. If you are going to stop watching the show because of that you might as well unplug your television and throw it out the window.
Yeah. It’s supposd 2 make the whole thng interestng. I mean, watchng how Mark wil be holding up after she’s gone. Where he’s going to fallback n stuff. Itz called DRAMA.
Mark has a place to fall back to…. OH NO!!!! Look out Arizona, Mark will want to fall back into the arms of him babys mama….
Thank you! I was just thinking the same thing
i cant agree more
Guess What, Laura? No one’s gonna even notice that you’re not watching Grey’s or Private Practice in the Fall….
how can you say shonda has poor taste. it is obvious she knows what she’s doing because if she didn’t the show wouldn’t have lasted this long and as far as lexie telling mark she loves him that just shows that sometimes when you think you have all the time in the world you really truly dont
All anyone can do at this point is guess. Maybe so Mark could realize he was really loved? Lexie had to have made an impact on his life and perhaps this may change the way he feels about women and relationships? Respect? Stop womanizing? Who knows. Maybe this will send him off the deep end? Tune in the new season and we’ll all find out together.
You must have missed the part where they “came to a decision together.” To tell Mark she loved him made you believe they were going to get back together, which in turn led to the amazing goodbye between the two characters during Lexie’s death. If she had never said she loved him and then had been trapped under the plane dying, we would have been angry that they never said their I love you’s one last time and it would have been an awkward situation. It led for a good ending, and even though we will miss the character of Lexie, I think that it was a damn good writing job. I applaud Rhimes and Leigh for giving a good closure, leaving on a good note and not with a sour taste in your mouth like after Heighl left. Lexie’s character didn’t do a 180 and decide to disappear because she had better things to do, she died, plain and simple. Much better than Heighl’s departure.
Really, Laura, did you just wake up and realize that after all these seasons – poor taste has been
exerted into the drama plot? Perhaps, you realized for a moment, that it is just tv, and all your
emotions and time have been wraped up into something you have no control over, and something which the bottom line reads, gotch ya! Now that’s DRAMA!!
Yes its vague but it does clear things up. She clearly wanted to leave the show due to family and yes it was a horrible thing to do and kill her off but it happened and thats how things go on a tv show. I personally think it was quite a fitting end now i have had a few weeks to mull what happened. Think about it, she declares her love to Mark and then she is killed in the finale. It happens all the time on tv shows. Was it right? Maybe not but like i said thats how tv works.
I love Lexie and if she was gonna leave the show I would rather watch her die than all of the sudden just leave, then have door open and for us to wander when she would come back.If I was the writer I would have done the same thing because if it such a game changer that it kind pays respect to how important the character has become..this is kind of the same situation with T.R. back in season 5.
Agree, but a little mystery is what keeps us coming back at the end of any show’s season. The cliff hanger. The tease.
As far as why tell Mark she loves him then kill her off, Mark is a dog. This gives the show a chance to change his MO and find real love, NOT! Once a dog always a dog. Now he will just get sympathy for howling. LOL
I’ll miss your character Lexie but totally understand as life is about the journey and what we do with it. Thanks :)
I really enjoyed the character of Lexie but I can understand if she needs to be with her family more…That is a very important job..Good Luck Lexie, hope to see you soon in a different show…
Well, yes, it really does. SHE made the decision. That’s all we really need to know.
You truly will be missed, enjoyed watching your growth on Grey’s! Good luck with whatever you decide to do next & family is the most important part of our lives. Hold tight to yours for we are never promised tomorrow!
Will always love her in reruns. It seems very clear to me, and I think she needs time with her lovely family. Best of luck in the future.
I Loved Slexie(Lexie and Sloan) from the beginning and I hate that Lexie died!
Why were they all on that plane I missed something. But amazing episode. Don’t think I have ever sat with mouth open so much watching TV
They were on their way to help with trauma at another hospital.
Lexie was one of my favorite characters on Grey’s! Although I did cry when you died on the last episode! Your fans will definitely miss you! Good luck in your pursuits in your career! Chyler you are a Beautiful & Very talented actress!
Why did you just end the show with that plane crash?
Instead of tearing the whole show apart, and yanking out OUR hearts?
i love lexie, she and Mark would have made the perfect couple. I will miss her.
I MISS GEORGE. & BURKE. Show needs more. Excitement .. Derrick needs to cheat on on Grey and grey needs to hook up with Mark..
Wouldnt that be a lil too close to the whole addison and derek situation? will miss u lexie
how is it vague? she wanted to spend time with her family. its as simple as that
What’s not to understand?
Characters on television shows are regular people that choose to move on from certain chapters of their lives. Chyler wanted to do other things in her life so she worked out a way to leave the show to pursue those things. The words directly from both Chyler and Shonda were that they worked together to figure out a way to have the show move forward without Lexie’s character. End of story, end of season.
How is Chyler saying she wanted Season 8 to be her last a vague statement? Not every star is beholden to us to say WHY they want to leave. :P
It probably had to do something with her husband! I’m sure working with Mr McSteamy and Mr McDreamy didn’t sit well. I’m sure that is why the explanation was so vague!
It does clear it up…she wanted more family time so she left to do so.
2 of chyler’s kids have special needs. She said in a previous interview that it was hard handling their care and her career at the same time. So I believe that this has something to do with her departure. She may take a long hiatus from acting altogether to care for them. I wish her the best of luck!
I love Lexie,but i understand her decision, I will miss her character,she wqas one of my favorities.Good luck!!
I loved Lexie, and her love story with Mark as well. I think all fans hoped that they would be reunited at some point. But I think the reason why the show is SO GOOD, is due to the way new character’s are introduced, so naturally and seamlessly that you can’t help but to love them as their roles develop, and when they abruptly exit at the end of the season, the shock is so intense, your left craving for information while waiting to see how the story will continue without these character’s. I love this show!
I am a French Quebecer’s fan of that series since the beginning, I loved her character; it was not the first time you made me cry!!! But that lost hurt a lot…. Hope her decision was the best one for her and her family… Some times you have to made a choice even if it is a hard one. Best of luck and hope we see you soon. XXX Diane.
She wants to spend more time with her family
Thank you Chyler for bringing so much to such a great character. . .We will miss you on Grey’s. Enjoy your family. . .
Libby/North Carolina
dont u greys anatomy lovers (and believe me i am one too) think that some of the characters like yang and mark sloan where not believable in this episode or was it just me,it really felt fake when mark was watching lexi died,i mean he looked like he never acted in his life, and what about yang looking for her shoe,i know she was in shock and all but still .anyway it was shocking that lexi died i really never expected it.really sad.
Agreed, I dunno, it just seems weird, I’m not convinced that she didn’t want more for Lexie/ EVERYONE wanted her and Mark to be happy. . I think at least having her finally say she still loves him, then having him say he loves her too is better than nothing, but it still totally bites. all the other times, I still wanted to watch, and I know I will, but I’m just so disappointed with how it ended. They could have both said they still loved each other, he could have left Julia in a tasteful way, and we could have watched their relationship blossom and she would have been close to Sophia anyway. . And frankly, I was wondering when April and Jackson would get together, I just don’t like how Shonda went about it, it could have been a really romantic thing, cuz there were several times where he stuck up for her and things like that, but I dunno, season 9 should be INTERESTING. . It’ll be sad if Mark dies too :( I think he would have if they wouldn’t have reminded him about Sophia, just cuz he loved Lexie SO much. . I don’t know, for a show, it’s just REALLY freakin sad. I don’t think it was the right decision to leave. If it was for family, that’s understandable, but supposedly, she’s starting a new show, and if that’s the case, it’s just wrong :p At least this shows how important she was to the show and the fans, if she didn’t know it before.
I totally agree with you. I still do not believe she wanted out. Greys will be going downhill fast…..Shonda made a BIG MSTAKE
Usually a move like that one is the beginning of the end for an actor that is as new as she is. I hope that’s not the case, I really enjoyed her work.
What’s vague about it? She decided to leave the show at the end of last season, so she and Rhimes came up with the death scene.
Hahaha… exactly!
I love ‘we worked together to give Lexie’s story appropriate closure.’ …. except the exact opposite happened.
Agreed cheap way out. Irresponsible to viewers. Mark Sloan’s death was the series end for me. It’s 5 years after and I am finally watching on Netflix. I stopped after death of Mark and Lexie characters. They also made Sloan too soft that season. Show just got lost.
Just an opinion. Way-old news now.
I get and respect that she wants to spend more time with her family, but… It was just wrong, the way they killed Lexie off. Just-wrong. I’ll never be over it.
Agreed. I have a hard time believing that she thought that was the appropriate closure for her character. It really wasn’t. Especially to those who were waiting for a real, honest to goodness, full on reunion of mark & Lexie. Which they were lead to believe would in fact happen. Still, I widh her well and hope she has more success in the future.
“Especially to those who were waiting for a real, honest to goodness, full on reunion of mark & Lexie. Which they were lead to believe would in fact happen.”
Yes! My thoughts exactly! I am upset Lexie died but I’m more upset that the writers lead us to believe they were going back together. If Shonda knew from the beginning she would leave, why would they do that? And why not write a proper finale for a great character, so it gave closure to Mark/Lexie fans?
If you have ever watched at least one season of this show, then you know that when a couple is happy or someone expresses their honest feelings to someone else, something bad happens. This is not something new Rhimes and her writing team just started doing.
Real life isnt like that! This happens in real life all the time! People finally tell each other how they feel and one dies. Its real. Its raw. Its Greys. Not everything is going to end the way “fans” want. Just like in real life. How are you going to create a show that is supposed to speak to human emotions and stage everything to be perfect. You want “happily ever after”? Go watch a fairy tale.
I completely agree, it just doesn’t seem like Chyler would want it to end that way for Lexie and Mark
Things happen in life, horrific things — what exactly is “wrong” with the way she departed? Would you rather she just left without a word?
Sure…that would have worked. They didn’t really do anything with Lexie, and her death didn’t meet the “shocking” status it was given in all the promos. After she broke up with Mark, it was just her popping up here and there. Her relationships with Alex and Jackson went nowhere. They didn’t know what to do with her anymore….and there was alot of potential. So, if she wanted to leave, why not have things completely end between her and Mark. Have her decide that she can’t work at Seattle Grace anymore with Mark….and have her transfer to another hospital. Must every member of Meredith’s family die? And what would have been more shocking? Mark dying as he held Lexie’s hand comforting her……Arizona dying, which would put Alex in a tailspin since he was supposed to be on the plane……April killing herself……those would have been shocking. Lexie was pinned under the tail of the plane….not a shock that she died. Just lame that they chose the option of killing her off.
Very well put. She was a really great actress & has been underused badly since they broke her & Mark up. It would have been better if she had left the show as you said, since they have now killed off all of Meridith’s family. Unfortunately it seems like only traumatic events seem to get great ratings these days so we can’t seem to get just a sad but normal ending to a character anymore. Too bad- I miss the really great non-violent, non-traumatic dramas we used to have. They are all quickly disappearing!
They haven’t killed off every member, her father is still alive, isn’t he? She just doesn’t talk to him. I wonder if they will bring him back in now that Lexie is gone.
Isn’t there still another half sister (lexi’s full sister)? Though I don’t think she’s a doctor.
Let’s put it this way, every family member that Meredith has that she really cares for is dead.
Her dad, is still basically an acquaintance the same thing with her sister. If either of them died she wouldn’t be as broken up about it. It’s harsh but it’s true, would she have been sad about it? Yes, she’s human and they are kinda her family too. But not the way Lexie is to her.
Chyler coming out and saying something, is good BUT it’s still one of those statements that leaves you with more questions. Not on Chyler’s decision to leave but rather on Shonda and her decision why it was a good idea to write Lexie off that way.
Very sound points you made, the justification of killing off Lexie was stunted in thought. If a character needed to be killed off would have been Arizona. I never could understand why she was let back into Callie’s life after she basically ripped Callie through and through at the airport. If a guy had done that to a woman, the viewers would want him castrated and he would never had re-entered into Callie’s life like Arizona leached on to. Arizona was verbally abusive and then to come back and grovel for forgiveness was mind numbing when Callie let her back into her life. It was one of those jump the shark moments where the show started going off the rails in believable story lines. After that, I lost respect for the show. Some of these relationships were doomed from the start and the only real relationship that made any sense in the beginning was Burke and Yang until Isiah couldn’t keep his mouth shut and even that was excessive compared to other actors who’ve done more heinous things. So they kill off Lexie and we have to accept that bit of load with a smile on our face. Honestly, these season finales have become a “what can we do to beat last year’s finale” situation. Hospital massacres, pier drownings, plane crashes, what next, a comet hurtling towards Seattle Grace?
THANK YOU. I almost never hear criticism about what happened with Callie and Arizona but I feel the exact same way. I definitely started to lose my interest and respect in the show after Arizona was shown to be this way. I stopped watching after season 7. And that was hard for me to do, because Grey’s used to be my favorite show of all time. After the way that Shonda wrote off T.R. Knight at the end of the fifth season, though, practically ignoring him for the whole season and then having him get hit by a bus instead of going off to the army for “drama,” I was already starting to raise my eyebrows at this show. The reason T.R. even felt like he wanted to leave is (I think) because Shonda had been writing for him less and less ever since he was “responsible” for Isaiah having to leave. Not saying that this is the case with Chyler, but I’m not surprised that you were made to beleive she and Mark would get back together, only to have her die in a horrific plane accident. And I agree, Bobbie, that the seasons are becoming a contest of “how can we beat the DRAMA of last season.” A comet would not be out of reach…or a spaceship full of diseased aliens landing and infecting Seatle Grace Hospital…
We saw how well that worked for Izzy, didn’t we?
If I was on a tv show and knew I was leaving – I would want to be killed off like this. I would want it to break hearts and make people angry, I would want people to cry and call for the blood of the writer. I’m not saying this is what Chyler wanted for Lexie – but it was a pretty awesome way to leave a series in a memorable manner. *unlike say Katherine Heigl’s* Lexie was my favorite and I will mourn the loss of the character, but if she left because she wanted to – that’s her prerogative – I won’t hate on the way they chose to write her character off. I can’t wait to see what the repercussions of it mean for all the characters next season.
Completely agree. Nice put.
NiceLY put… :p
Couldn’t agree more Joy! Perfectly said
agree. But I wonder…who is gonna get all the crap jobs at Seattle Grace now. Lexie was cleanup for everybody as well as Lexipedia!
I get that, that assumption is logical but how do we know that, that’s why she left? I really don’t feel like that was the reason.
I agree!! They did NOT give her any proper closure by any means. What she heard Mark say “I love you?” We already knew that. Her character wasn’t given children, husband, and she wasn’t even able to take the boards yet. Basically a great character with much potential still was killed off….and if she really wanted off that’s ok, i would understand that. But killing Lexie, i will NEVER understand that. I’m so over Grey’s!!
LIfe isn’t all rosebuds and peaches. It doesn’t end all wrapped in a pretty ribbon tied with a bow. Closure is messy, painful and often not what you wanted, but what you needed. (The two are not mutually inclusive.) Did Lexie want more than death with “meant to be” on her lips? Most definitely. Did she get it? No. She got what she got.
And honestly, there are worse ways to go out of this world. Lexie at least got to die with the person she most loved in the whole world holding her hand and telling her how much he loved her back. Charles didn’t get that. Reed certainly didn’t get that. Henry didn’t get that.
It is what it is. Closure happens the way it does, not the way you think it should.
Life isn’t all rosebuds and peaches, but it isn’t all death, drama, trauma, massacre, tragedy, catastrophe, shock, twist, and gruesome grotesque murders either. This show needs a happy ending. Or two. Or twenty. I’m not even a fan of “everything is perfect in the end” type things, but to balance out all of the far-fetched events they put Seattle Grace through, they need someway to make it remotely realistic.
I agree! The way they killed her off was hard to see and to know that while the survivors are sitting and waiting for rescue her body is laying on the ground not far away decaying…I’d have a hard time acting like normal while waiting for rescue!
It’s just a TV show people, get over it!
For real… Love this show, my all time favorite..BUT IT IS JUST A TV SHOW ! Maybe some of you need to be reminded , there really is NO Lexie , she was make believe.
My sentimates exactly!!! I cried like a baby when her character died, and I had to keep telling myself it’s only make believe. I loved her character and wanted Mark and her to get back together; but now I understand why she left the show. I admire her as a person for putting her family first….unlike so many other movie and tv stars. I wish her nothing but the best, and hopefully in the future we’ll see her on another show or in a movie.
THANK YOU!! I’m glad someone finally said that. I love Grey’s and will continue to watch it, but it IS just a TV show. A lot of the things the writers have done over the past season or so are purely for the drama, or the “hook” for the audience. And sadly enough, as you get older, you see more and more of these bizarre things happening in real life, to your friends, family and acquaintances. I could tell some pretty bizarre and dramatic stories just from my life.
it may just be a tv show for you but to the viewers it was so so much more. i know it ain’t real i am not crazy!!! but for an hour a week i could be transported to these make believe lives.I to HATED THE FACT THAT GEORGE WAS KILLED!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was my favorite!!!!!!!!! Arizona can go back to Arizona take Owen with her. The viewer getting involved in character lines and charac.ters is what kept them all working this long
She will be missed! But having such young kids, it’s understandable, especially since Grey’s seems to be a very demanding show
Total class response – hopefully her fans will take note and follow suite
Still makes me sad… but I love Chyler and wish her success!
The diplomatic “I left because of reasons and thank you” as expected.
She doesn’t owe anyone any deep, intimate details. Her explanation was appropriate.
going miss lexie
I love Chyler and Lexie was my favorite character. I’m still not over her death but I’m also excited about seeing Chyler in other roles :D
It clears up that it was Chyler who approached TPTB about exiting. Maybe she was as board with Grey’s as I have become. Onto better things Chyler! This fan will follow you.
Sad to say goodbye to Lexie, but I wish Chyler the best. Look forward to seeing what she does next.
It’s not vague, it’s clear! SHE WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH HER FAMILY!
And it’s Shonda AND her who choose to kill her! Plus it’s the only solution to have Mark without Lexie
I wish they would have had her leave and not be killed. That would have made it possible for her to come back if she chose to. You don’t have to die to leave the show. Dr. Hahn, and Burke both left the show and didn’t die.
And both never cam back…
But they could. They could have at least made it possible, but unlikely, for her to come back at the very least.
But she doesn’t want to come back at all so what’s the point of keeping her alive so that there’s a chance she might come back for mark or something if she doesn’t want to be apart of Grey’s anymore
Well, Isaiah Washington and Brooke Smith didn’t leave of their own choice. Washington was fired after his homophobic comments, so understandable that he hasn’t returned. And Smith was just let go….out of nowhere,…..and she wasn’t happy about the way it was handled. So, I can see why she hasn’t returned. But I agree with you that you don’t have to die to leave the show….unless your last name is Grey.
They killed George off too. Why does everyone act like this is the first doctor to get killed? I am not happy with the way Lexie exited the show, but it was her decision to leave. As a mother myself I understand wanting to stay home and be a mom rather than spend all day away from my kids. I love Lexie, and I wanted her to be with Mark but this was a good way to make it not happen. If she had just left I would make the mark/lexie fans wondering why he doesnt follow her if he loves her so much? This was a group decision, I think this explanation was all she needed.
That’s it?? I was expecting more…like an actual interview not just reporting on a short public statement.
This. So this was probably just a statement Shonda & Co. told Chyler’s reps to make so that the hate can lighten down a little… lmao.
Still hate that Lexie is gone!
I respect the fact that Chyler wanted out, but killing Lexie was NOT an appropiate closure. Oh, Shonda, you lazy woman.. You couldn’t come up with something else?
I can’t blame Chyler for leaving the show. I think it’s nice for a mother of three to want to be with her family. I get that. But I still don’t like Lexie’s death was the answer. I feel like death is the answer to every thing when an actor leaves Grey’s Anatomy. It drives me nuts. It does not matter whether or not Chyler wanted to leave the show, it matters how the character was written out and she was written out in an awful, anti-climactic, devastating way.
Great response.I totally agree with you. Lexie,(Chyler) and the entire Grey’s family of fans deserve more than a boring plane crash. Been there, done that. And,why does everyone always have to die? Death is not always the answer. Shonda, you should be ashamed. You used to be so creative,now your so predictable. Chyler,you will be missed. Hoping you change your mind and possibly pull off a Bobby Ewing from Dallas and surprise us all with a bad dream. Shonda work on it! Bring Lexie back, find a new exit that leaves the door open for some happiness and love instead of always relying on the death card. Life is a gift and Lexie was your gift to us!!!!
“Lexie” made a choice NOT to come back. Deal with it. People die every day.
Clear as mud. Now I’m even more suspicious she’s the person behind the Crazy Days And Nights blind item, which would be a shame.
That site is a complete fabrication. I wouldn’t take anything written there as anything but lies and fantasy.
Exactly. It was probably written by one of the losers who hang out on GA sites 24/7.
Losers lk you ? Let me guess … You’re a troll w/nothing else better to do?
Irony …
Me and my pals love Grey’s 24/7. Yabba Dabba do, right-O?
I totally respect her wanting to leave the show after 5 seasons. What bothers me is how Shonda ruthlessly killed her off. She could have been written out in a less upsetting way. Enough cast members have died!
1?
Depends if you count the Mercy-Westers….
Denny, George, Meredith’s mother, Meredith’s stepmother, 2 mercy-westers in the shooting…
I understand now that Chyler asked to leave Greys & I’m ok with that but wish it was done differently for the fans and the characters we have followed for so long. Still not sure if I can watch….but I will continue to support Chyler in her career!
if Shonda was so set on killing Lexie she could have at least given Mark & Lexie (and the fans) a reunion even for a couple of episodes then killed her. I think that would have been more heartbreaking but acceptable. Or if Eric Dane doesn’t come back, she should have had him die holding her hand like he almost did. At least they would have been together. I still think the way it was done was a slap in the face to the fans.
Shonda does like to slap the fans in the face.
As a huge George O’Malley fan, I felt slapped in the face almost to the point of no return… :( lol
The funniest thing: appropriate closure !!!!
It was so unfair and so not appropriate….I love Chyler and her Lexie…she wil be missed so much that her departure I guess will be the beginning of the downhill for Grey’s….at least for me…this was too much!
Finally Chyler speaks! I will miss you. I hope to see your face sometime soon on television. :( Respecting your decisions. Finally the fans can rest with the speculation.
Still vague though.. I too was also expecting an interview. :/ This is more like a statement PR. Nevertheless at least we have something from her.
Have to wonder what is going on over there that would make three people(Chyler Leigh, KIm Reaver and Kate Walsh)would want to leave.
With Lexie dead i am not watching anyways. Now let’s start the campaign to make Chyler Leigh play the mother on How I Met Your Mother
She would be perfect for the mother! And don’t forget Tim Daly, he was unexpectedly fired earlier this week.
“Private Practice” is a bubble show. It was probably renewed but with significant budget cuts. Out of all of the characters, Pete was the only one set up to leave the show so Shonda and her fellow executives probably made their decision for that very reason.
Yeah, yet five decided to renew their contracts and STAY — very suspicious…..
It almost as if these people have GASP lives! Kate Walsh left because she GOT HER OWN SHOW. HELLO? That’s what every actor dreams off! Kim Raver’s storyline wasn’t going anywhere, and Chyler has a family. It’s called LIFE. Geez.
I am not talking about when Kate Walsh left GA, but that she is leaving Private Practice after the next 13 episodes
Kate Walsh probably just wants to do other things. She’s played the Addison character for 8 years now. Sometimes you just want to move on. And she’s got a business that’s bringing in enough money so she doesn’t have to relay on the Shondaland paycheck anymore until she’s found a new stable gig.
Kate Walsh is on a different show. Her leaving has nothing to do with what goes on with “Grey’s Anatomy.” Also, Kate Walsh’s contract was always going to be up with season 6 so her wanting to leave isn’t a surprise. She’s been playing the same character for 7 years. I totally understand why she’d want to move on. Chyler Leigh wants to spend time with her family (as proven by her asking for time off in the beginning of the season to spend time with her family). Kim Raver’s the only one whose departure can’t be easily explained but Shonda said that she is eager to keep Raver in her universe in some way and is even considering writing a spin-off specifically about Teddy and that proves that there is no bad blood between them.
Just because she said it, doesn’t mean it’s actually going to happen. Shonda seems to be quite the masterful weaver of lies and fan misdirection. If course she’d want you to think everything is A-OK. As evidenced by the outrage from the Mark & Lexie fans, Shonda will say whatever she wants at the time and then not follow through. Not that I believe there is bad blood but I wouldn’t trust everything she says.
Ok, so maybe Kim Raver left because of bad blood with Shonda or someone else on the show. That’s fine. But there are clear, rational reasons as to why Kate Walsh and Chyler Leigh would want to leave their shows that have nothing to do with anything Shonda has said in the past. Those explanations are based exclusively on hard facts (contracts, previous requests, previous statements from the actresses).
Teddy needs to runnnnn before they kill her off too!! Lol. Will def miss little Grey though. And although I’ve been hoping her and Mark get back together…I Ammon love with Dane!!…lately Mark has been looking horrible with that dyed hair! His salt and pepper was sexy!
ahhh i love that idea!! she would be perfect on HIMYM….and do you remember how in one of the episodes we find out ted’s wife’s was in a band when she was younger? Chyler can really sing in real life so she could show off her musical talent too.
Who knows maybe she was approached by HIMYM writers and that’s why she left..you never know! lol
I love her and I love Lexie but I don’t see why she left…. she didn’t say anything, maybe to have some time with her kids, okay, but she and Shonda spent one year to kill her on a f*cking plane crash? Bravo… anyway, I’ll follow her :)
Took two weeks to release a generic statement, still completely unclear. She basically echoed what Shonda said. There is obviously more to the story but I’m not going to continue as I’m sure I’d sound crazy. Best of luck to Chyler, her family, and her career. She’s the best!
No way was this “appropriate closure”.
Agreeing with your statement. This wasn’t an approrpriate closure, and while i’m glad Chyler finally “reveals” (uh… really? hahaha it seems like someone was hired to write this. -____-) why she left, well, I guess we can’t go on further but to hope for the best for Chyler and her future. I will reaaaallllyy miss Lexie :( no one can replace her.
I’m kinda amazed at some of the comments here — so what if it’s a shocking death — it’s a tv show
you obviously have a life
and don’t tumblr
lol! So cool *gg*
According to this statement, it was basically her decision to leave… I’m sorry for that because I liked Lexie… But I I wish Chyler the best. I hope to see her soon in new shows.
P.S. What is the Crazy day and Nights blind item? I think I missed it…