Yaya DaCosta on Chicago Med Exit: ‘I’m Going to Miss Everyone Dearly’
Yaya DaCosta is speaking out following the news that she will be leaving Chicago Med after playing nurse April Sexton since the NBC medical drama’s debut in 2015.
“After six amazing seasons of working with some of the most dedicated people in the business, learning wild medical jargon, growing as an actor and as a person… my time as April Sexton on Chicago Med has come to a close,” DaCosta wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
“I am so grateful to Dick Wolf, Peter Jankowski, showrunners Andy Schneider and Diane Frolov, our producers (and stellar directors) Michael Waxman and Michael Pressman, and the entire Wolf Entertainment team for believing in me from the show’s very inception, and for giving April wings to explore such dynamic storylines,” she continued. “The cast and crew were so good to me and the background actors gave me so much energy and love, even in silence… I’m going to miss everyone dearly, and of course, all of you who watch the show religiously and have also become part of the One Chicago family. With love and gratitude.”
It was announced on Wednesday that DaCosta and her longtime castmate Torrey DeVitto, who plays Dr. Natalie Manning, would both be exiting the NBC drama ahead of Season 7. DaCosta has already lined up a post-Med project: She has been cast in Lee Daniels’ Our Kind of People, which received a straight-to-series order at Fox earlier this year.
The rest of the Chicago Med cast — S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Goodwin, Oliver Platt as Dr. Daniel Charles, Nick Gehlfuss as Dr. Will Halstead, Brian Tee as Dr. Ethan Choi and Marlyne Barrett as nurse Maggie Lockwood — are all expected to return for Season 7, though their contracts are currently being negotiated.
I’m going to miss her. I watched her when she first appeared on America’s Next Top Model. Kudos to her for mentioning the background actors. I was a SAG background actor for years and it’s not everyday you hear a “Thank you” from one of the cast members. She’s a class act! Boy could I tell you some stories – the good, the bad, and the hideous.
YaYa being such a Class Act You were able to detach that something was not moving smoothly with her character:(1) no conclusion to finale scene with her and Ethan in S5 (2) no close acting with her and Brian;ie touching, close looking and Brian Tee looking at the Sabena character (3) April not telling Ethan about Dean’s action toward her.
Seems like they’ve been setting April up to leave Med to pursue a more advanced nursing degree, or maybe even go to med school. Feels like a fitting exit strategy.
In the 2 episodes that are left it would be nice to see a “Love Exit” with April and Ethan.
Never liked the April character so will not miss her & Manning has become too flakey the last two seasons so will not miss her either!
Won’t miss either one.
I will miss her so much! Hope she has much success on her new show.
I will miss April💔
I would of love to see April of Chicago Med and Atwater of Chicago PD have a relationship started.
I am not sorry to see her go. Her behavior is many scenes would have gotten a normal person fired. I was so tired of all the drama. Same with Manning, glad she is going too.
Is there any character on the show that behaved unprofessionally? I think everyone would have been fired for cause by now.
“Good Doctors Behaving Unprofessionally” could be the tagline for pretty much any medical show on TV. Ever.
Bring back Dr. Reese!
I am going to miss her a lot I am not going to get my endgame with #Chexton no but I wished her all the best. April fan , #Chextonfan
It’s about time Natalie is leaving. Drs do not act like she does. I hope it will entail her going to jail for stealing those pills. April I will miss. There should be people in the real medical field that care like she does.
It doesn’t sound like either actress wanted to leave the series and I’m sorry both are exiting .
Both their storylines are weak this season and their scripted reasons for leaving the show even weaker. I hope Dick Wolf is planning on at least a few guest episodes per actress. Manning and Halstead didnt really resolve and neither did April and Ethan. This makes me feel manipulated by the writers season after season…leading to a quick patched together exit. Sad but true.
They are 2 of my favorite ppl. I have been watching the show for 5 yrs now. They will be missed.
Chicago med will give us a different direction without u April l have been a fun throughout and we will miss u. I think the series will not continue well without your character.
An actor leaving a show in a classy way? I didn’t think that was possible anymore.
That’s what I’ve been saying and if it’s true then will Ethan and Will exit also. Sharon is the only one who has signed on the others are in process. Here is another: Marilyn giving her phone over to (I forgot the name) so that she could oversee her daughter. Is this a clue that Marilyn is exiting also?
No loss april kept overstepping her bounds as a nurse and dr manning stealing the drugs both things would be career enders in the real world
Have you followed April from Season1 until now? April was written UGLY this season. The early April was knowlegible, respected, caring (Patients and Staff) and wanted to avoid gossip. Season 3 April tried to keep her relationship with Dr. Choi a secret. April helped the Homeless Teens living under the bridge. It was this Season that the Writers changed April’s Character.
I really hate YaYa is leaving Chicago Med she is one of my favorite characters on the show. 😢
Chicago Med is a favorite. Wish the season end would not come to a close. Look forward to the next season. Everyone is exceptional. Thank you all for such great story lines.. I will miss you all until next season.