It was recently announced that two major Grey’s Anatomy characters will be leaving the series in season 21, with their exits contributing to a sad and growing trend with representation in television. Grey’s Anatomy is losing major cast members in Jake Borelli, who has played Levi Schmitt for eight seasons, and Midori Francis, who has played Mika Yasuda for the past two seasons. Both actors are currently negotiating contracts to let them wrap up their characters’ storylines in Grey’s Anatomy season 21. It’s unclear how involved they’ll be in the upcoming season, but it will be their last.

These exits were surprising and somewhat premature, with Francis’ character still developing and Borelli’s character starting to pursue a new specialty in Grey’s Anatomy season 20. There seems to be much to explore with Yasuda and Schmitt, but with the early notice, Grey’s Anatomy season 21 has the opportunity to wrap up their stories properly. Grey’s Anatomy has had some painful character exits, and hopefully, their stories can end on a positive note, unlike many others who came before them. Grey’s Anatomy has suffered from exits and cast changes lately, but the long-running medical drama persists through it all.

Levi & Yasuda Leaving Is A Loss Of Important Representation

Grey’s Anatomy Has Had Many Queer Characters Come & Go Over 20 Seasons

What is particularly sad regarding Yasuda and Schmitt’s exits is that it will mean a loss of important LGBTQ+ representation that has been sorely lacking in television. In Grey’s Anatomy season 15, episode 6, Schmitt came out as gay, embracing his sexuality after a long journey. Following the episode’s premiere, Jake Borelli publicly came out as gay through an Instagram post. Borelli wrote in the post’s caption:

“This is exactly the kind of story I craved as a young gay kid growing up in Ohio, and it blows my mind that I’m able to bring life to Dr. Levi Schmitt as he begins to grapple with his own sexuality this season on Grey’s Anatomy.”

While he told this important story for seven seasons, it’s a major loss for Grey’s Anatomy that he won’t continue to do so after season 21. In contrast to Schmitt’s storyline, Yasuda’s queerness didn’t require a major coming out storyline and was simply a part of her character. At the end of Grey’s Anatomy season 19, Yasuda started dating Helm, one of the show’s few lesbian characters. Additionally, Yasuda is an LGBTQ+ character of color, which is another identity that lacks representation in television.

The Character Departures Could Lead To A Bigger Role For Monica

Monica Could Potentially Add More Important Needed Representation

With Francis and Borelli’s announcements, there could be more shocking departures on the way for Grey’s Anatomy season 21. While there are some financial concerns regarding the future of the medical drama, particularly due to the series having such a large ensemble cast on their payroll, the exits could leave room for some promotions. Grey’s Anatomy season 20 introduced Natalie Morales in a recurring role as Monica Beltran, a new attending pediatric surgeon at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Though it hasn’t been confirmed that her character is part of the LGBTQ+ community, there have been signs that she is.

Grey’s Anatomy season 20 has teased a relationship between Monica and Amelia, who first expressed romantic interest in women in season 16 when she hit on Carina. At that point, Amelia had been part of the Grey’s Anatomy universe for almost 10 years. In Grey’s Anatomy season 18, Amelia’s character entered a relationship with Kai, a nonbinary person, only for them to break up when Kai departed the show at the end of season 19, causing the series to lose even more important representation.

There are three more episodes in Grey’s Anatomy season 20, leaving plenty of time for Monica and Amelia’s relationship to shift from flirtatious to romantic. Viewers have already found themselves attached to Monica, who is reminiscent of another LGBTQ+ Grey’s Anatomy character, Arizona Robbins. Promoting Morales to a series regular role in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 could help improve the show’s representation while also continuing to explore an interesting potential relationship between her and Amelia.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Might Not Be The Last Season

Grey’s Anatomy Could Add More Representation In Season 22

For years, viewers have wondered when Grey’s Anatomy will finally end. At what will be 21 seasons and counting, Grey’s Anatomy is the longest-running primetime medical drama in television history, a milestone it hit back in season 15. Despite all the changes made over the years and some not-so-great choices, Grey’s Anatomy has stuck around and continues to be one of the most-watched network dramas. It also continues to find audiences on streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

Grey’s Anatomy is facing budget cuts and moving from the 9 p.m. Thursday night slot to 10 p.m. for season 21. While this could ring some alarm bells for viewers, Disney TV Group President Craig Erwich told Deadline he is optimistic about the show’s future. He assured that the move wasn’t a knock on Grey’s Anatomy, but an opportunity to launch a new show while keeping the medical drama on what used to be known as TGIT (Thank God It’s Thursday) when Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder were still airing.

If Grey’s Anatomy does get a season 22, the show has a chance to add more representation, whether that’s with existing characters or new characters. Even with Yasuda and Schmitt’s upcoming exits, Grey’s Anatomy still has multiple remaining confirmed LGBTQ+ characters in Amelia, Teddy, and Helm. There is also the chance that Carina will be returning to Grey’s Anatomy with Station 19 ending, and there is always the opportunity for existing characters to explore their sexuality or come out later in life, as Amelia did.

Queer Characters Are Leaving TV At An Alarming Rate

Representation Is On A Declining Trend

For as many LGBTQ+ characters Grey’s Anatomy has, even more have left the show. Though LGBTQ+ representation remains as important as ever, the number of LGBTQ+ characters is on a sharp decline. GLAAD’s 2023 annual report on LGBTQ+ representation in TV found there were 596 regular and recurring LGBTQ+ characters across broadcast, cable, and streaming, which was a decrease of 6.44 percent from 2022.

GLAAD’s 2023-24 study showed there were only 468 LGBTQ+ characters counted that season, and at least 170, or 36 percent of them, will not be returning due to shows ending, behing canceled, and characters leaving or dying. With the Grey’s Anatomy season 21 news, Yasuda and Schmitt are contributing to this disappointing trend. Unfortunately, so is Grey’s Anatomy’s spinoff show, Station 19, which is ending this year after seven seasons.

In recent years, networks and streaming services in particular have become notorious for canceling shows starring LGBTQ+ characters or with important LGBTQ+ representation. Netflix contributed to the declining representation trend in 2022 with First Kill and has since continued it with Warrior Nun, Glamorous, Shadow & Bone, Dead End: Paranormal Park, and more. Many viewers have pointed out that shows with LGBTQ+ characters and shows don’t get the same opportunity as their heterosexual counterparts, with producers quick to cancel them, kill them off, or write them out.

While Grey’s Anatomy can still be celebrated for its representation – the series still holds the record for the longest-running lesbian character on primetime television with Arizona – we can also acknowledge the part it plays in this sad representation trend. Hopefully, Grey’s Anatomy will make up for the loss in season 21 by continuing to focus on LGBTQ+ characters and storylines. Regardless, Schmitt and Yasuda and the representation they brought will be missed in Grey’s Anatomy.