Grey’s Anatomy fans were left bereft when the news of another beloved cast member’s departure hit the internet. Jake Borelli’s exit from the series as Levi Schmitt has ignited questions as to why he won’t be staying for future seasons. Schmitt was first introduced in Season 14 as a rookie intern. Through the years, he has established himself as one of the prominent characters in the show and continues to be a major representation of the LGBTQ community in the show. But, what’s the reason behind his departure?
Here’s everything we know about why Jake Borelli is leaving Grey’s Anatomy as Levi Schmitt.
Why is Jake Borelli’s Levi Schmitt leaving Grey’s Anatomy?
Jake Borelli will be leaving Grey’s Anatomy reportedly due to a budget cut that came with the show’s renewal.
According to a recent report by Deadline, Borelli will feature in a few episodes in Season 21, in order to neatly wrap up his character’s storyline. Levi Schmitt’s story arc this season will give him a proper goodbye as the show’s veteran. Schmitt has been a regular in the show since Season 16 and has since become a fan favorite.
Long-running series such as Grey’s Anatomy tend to stumble financially after years of airing. This often leads to budget cuts. As the making of the series gets pricier each year, makers might decide to cut down on the production value. This may lead to the departure of some of the cast members or even a reduction in the number of episodes, which seems to be the case with Borelli. Deadline has also reported that for the rest of the cast members of Grey’s Anatomy, the number of episodes they appear in is also being renegotiated due to budget restrictions.
As for Schmitt’s exit, the show has already begun crafting his final goodbye to the show. The latest episode, titled “Night Moves,” saw Schmitt decide to opt for a lucrative research position in Texas. This will require leaving the Grey Sloan Memorial hospital. Levi is now worried about how he will break this news to his boyfriend James. The upcoming episodes are all set to bid adieu to Levi Schmitt. Needless to say, fans are already bracing themselves for a bittersweet goodbye.