'Grey's Anatomy' Fans Just Learned the Truth About Jesse Williams' Exit From the Series
This story contains spoilers from season 19 of Grey's Anatomy.
You better prepare yourselves, Grey's Anatomy fans, because Dr. Jackson Avery is making a comeback in an unusual way.
Just a few months after Jesse Williams came back for the season 18 finale after exiting the hit ABC medical drama, Deadline announced he would be returning as both a guest star and director for an episode of season 19. That moment comes tonight, as current chief of surgery Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) will surprise Jackson in Boston to discuss her desire to try something new in the medical field.
"I want to cure Alzheimer's," she tells her former colleague in the promo for tonight's episode. "It's absolutely ridiculous," to which Jackson gives her an inquisitive response: "What if it's not ridiculous?"
While Meredith's visit is certainly a reason for Jackson to make a reappearance, it doesn't seem to be the only one. Viewers will also see the doctor interact with his mother Catherine (Debbie Allen), who seems to be going through medical testing for an undisclosed illness.
In a March 2022 interview with The New York Times, Jesse gave a reason for leaving the show after 12 seasons. According to the actor, he decided to leave for a number of reasons. Aside from the fact that his two-year contract was ending, he wanted to experience new challenges.
"I knew that as I designed my exit, the next thing I did had to be terrifying," he told the outlet. "I needed to get out of my comfort zone."
That wish came true as he went on to perform in the current Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Take Me Out, which sees him play a baseball player who comes out as gay.
Jesse spoke more about the profound effect Grey's Anatomy had on him in a May 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
"I’m really proud of being able to humanize things that are always projected to be so polarizing and far away in our society," he said at the time. "Being able to look at the way these last couple episodes how he went out, these are really polarizing topics: racism, police brutality, racial inequality in medicine, discrimination … these are things that people put their head in the sand, deny and argue about and have been political punching bags. And this character and his journey has connected with people from all walks of life."
While Jesse continues to build a career away from the Shonda Rhimes-led series, he's also grateful for the opportunities playing Jackson brought him over the years. He even shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram in May 2021 to celebrate his character's final full-time episode.
"As an actor, director and person, I have been obscenely lucky to learn so much from so many and I THANK OUR INCREDIBLE FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD who breathe so much energy and appreciation into our lives and work," he wrote at the time. "You are central to this story! The experience and endurance born of creating nearly 300 hours of leading global television is a gift I’ll carry always."
He continued: "I am immensely proud of our work, our impact and to be moving forward with this array of tools, allies, opportunities and dear friends. Gratitude and love, now and forever."
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