It’s been over two weeks since word first broke that LaRoyce Hawkins will be exiting Chicago PD at the top of season 14, and the One Chicago fandom is still coming to terms with the disappointing decision. Word of Hawkins’ exit from the show came as quite a surprise to fans, and it’s quickly becoming apparent that the fans weren’t the only ones blindsided by the decision.
Since news of his exit after 13 seasons as a series regular has hit, Hawkins has been notably silent about the decision and has yet to post any formal statement acknowledging his upcoming exit. There has been no statement issued to any major trade, and Hawkins has not commented in any manner about his forthcoming exit from the show on social media, be it via a post shared to his Instagram Stories or to his page directly.
Here’s where things get interesting.
This is not an instance of a celebrity just not being active on social media. Since word of his exit broke, Hawkins has posted on Instagram in a new daily cadence and been keeping just as busy as usual; however, there has not been a single post about Chicago PD or his departure from the show. And it’s not just a lack of an official acknowledgment on his social media either.
Two of Hawkins’ Chicago PD co-stars have directly posted about his forthcoming exit. Marina Squerciati posted a short and sweet tribute to her longtime co-star on Instagram, sharing a series of behind-the-scenes photos from over the years, while Karen Obilom addressed the news via an Instagram Story, responding to a fan post sending love to Hawkins. Yet in both instances, Hawkins has not engaged with the posts in any way, be it via a like on the post or a comment of any kind, even one as simple as a heart emoji.
The radio silence is speaking volumes and seems to reaffirm early indications that this was not a decision made by Hawkins but one made by the creative team. The overall lack of acknowledgment feels especially telling when you consider the exits we’ve seen in the past and the way they played out.
Typically, we tend to see stars who are active on social media address the news in some manner, be it through heartfelt posts, a statement to the press, or at the very least a message thanking the fans. Sometimes it’s not even about a direct acknowledgment, as we’ve seen actors address news without directly commenting by sharing simple messages, including some that simply rely on emojis or quick phrases.
That hasn’t happened here.
If Hawkins was involved in shaping his exit or had chosen to leave on his own terms, it would stand to reason that we’d see some kind of coordinated messaging, and a statement would have been released upon the news breaking, which we’ve seen in various instances through the years.
For fans, that disconnect is only adding to the frustration over losing a character who is so beloved by the fans. Atwater has been the heart of the series for over a decade, and viewers have become deeply invested in the character. To see such a major departure unfold without any direct communication from the actor leaves a noticeable void that’s fueling speculation about what may have happened behind the scenes.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that Hawkins is choosing to wait to acknowledge his exit and wants to find the right moment, such as timing his farewell to when filming begins later this month. Until that moment comes, though, the silence continues to stand out.
With filming slated to begin around July 22, we’ll see if Hawkins chooses to finally break the silence and release a statement addressing his departure from the show. If the silence continues, it’ll become that much more deafening and cast a shadow over the Chicago PD season 13.
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