Jesse Williams is finally revealing why he really left the hit show, “Grey’s Anatomy.”
In a recent interview, he said that he was beginning to “feel increasingly safe, protected, and insulated.”
Williams played ENT specialist Dr. Jackson Avery for 12 seasons until leaving the show in 2021.
“As an actor, director, and person, I have been obscenely lucky to learn so much from so many and I thank our beautiful fans, who breathe so much energy and appreciation into our shared worlds,” he said about his decision to leave the show.
Williams is currently promoting his Broadway debut in the play, “Take Me Out.” He plays the character, Darren Lemming, a fictional baseball star who comes out as gay. The actor went on to explain the change from television to Broadway.
“I knew that as I designed my exit, the next thing I did had to be terrifying. I needed to get out of my comfort zone, I needed to go into a very unknown place.”
He added, “The last thing I want is to be the shiny rich TV guy that thinks he can just show up and do something because that’s just absolutely not how I feel. I’m just here to learn.”
“Take Me Out” will officially open at the Hayes Theater on April 4th.