Former Grey’s Anatomy cast member Chyler Leigh (Lexie Grey) opened up about her character’s shocking death in the season 8 finale last month.
Leigh explains that her departure from the show was her decision, in an exclusive statement to TVLine.
“Earlier this year, I made the decision that season eight would be my last on Grey’s Anatomy,” she wrote. “I met with Shonda (Rhimes) 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.”
The show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, tweeted following the season finale explaining how difficult it was to write the episode that killed a fan-favorite in Lexie.
“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,” Rhimes wrote. “As far as I’m concerned Chyler will always remain a part of the Shondaland family and I can’t wait to work with her again in the future.”
Grey’s Anatomy returns for its ninth season in the fall. Does Chyler Leigh’s explanation change your opinion of the season finale?