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Shonda Rhimes responds to the fan reaction of Regé-Jean Page's exit from Bridgerton

Photo credit: LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
Photo credit: LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX

The decision for Bridgerton actor Regé-Jean Page's to leave the show after the first season was met with a strong reaction from fans of the Netflix hit, who did not want to see him go. And now, executive producer Shonda Rhimes has weighed in on the decision and the unexpected reaction.

"I was really shocked, because usually that happens when I’ve killed off somebody that’s been around for a while," she told Vanity Fair. "Like, we didn’t kill him, he’s still alive! Every season, our job is finding the right people and putting together this incredible, world-shifting romance. I don’t know that I expected this much of an explosion, given that every book [in the Bridgerton series] is a different romance."

Rhimes went on to explain that there was no clear storyline to continue with after the couple's happy ending at the end of season one.

"What would be the ever-after of this combo?" she said. "We gave them their happily ever after! And now we have this next couple coming. And so yeah, I was like, whoa!"

Rhimes also went on to talk about how she has become quite used to fan reactions after her work on shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal, where audiences become so attached to the characters.

"That’s our job… is finding guys. I mean, hopefully ladies too, but finding men that our audiences find devastatingly attractive and they become incredibly overly attached to and they get enraged when we move them about in any way."

Just this week, Bridgerton was confirmed to be returning until at least season four, with season two already in production.

"Bridgerton swept us off our feet. The creative team, led by Shonda, knew the material and delivered a beautiful, emotional, romantic drama for our members," Netflix's global TV vice president Bela Bajaria said of the decision. "They have some exciting plans for the future, and we think audiences will continue to swoon for this show. We’re planning to be in the Bridgerton business for a long time to come.”

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