Why did Edwards leave Grey's Anatomy? Reason behind Jerrika Hinton’s exit, explored

Since its premiere, Grey's Anatomy has been a popular medical drama. It delves into the personal and professional issues of surgical interns, residents, and attending physicians at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

The drama started with Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey being the lead and narrating the episodes in her iconic voice. Pompeo, however, no longer acts as the lead character after Grey's Anatomy Season 19 and has been featured as a recurring one.

Besides Meredith Grey, the medical drama introduced us to other pivotal characters, one of them being Dr. Stephanie Edwards, played by Jerrika Hinton. The actress became part of the cast during Season 9 and acted Edwards until Season 13 finale.

She was very committed to her medical life and always produced her best while working at the hospital. Following a near-death experience in an explosion, Dr. Stephanie Edwards suffered severe burns that made her leave medicine behind.

Also, Jerrika Hinton desired to seek new ventures within the world of entertainment. In contrast with most cast departures from long-time dramas, Hinton's departure involved a mix of personal and professional goals and a narrative arc.

Read more to know about Dr. Stephanie Edwards and what Hinton said regarding her exit.

---

How Dr. Stephanie Edwards was written off from Grey's Anatomy?

Grey's Anatomy has introduced viewers to several new characters in different seasons. Among the beloved doctors in Season 9 was Dr. Stephanie Edwards. Like most interns, she also began her internship under Meredith Grey and was highly competitive

While Stephanie always wanted to prove her competence in a high-pressure environment, she also made mistakes and learned from them. Apart from her medical career, she crossed paths with Dr. Jackson Avery and soon developed feelings for him.

However, Avery fell in love with another woman, leaving Stephanie heartbroken. Despite the personal issues, the young surgical resident didn't give up and focused on her career.

Dr. Stephanie Edwards always aimed to move forward in her medical career, but a life-threatening fire in Grey's Anatomy Season 13 shattered her. While trying to save a young girl, Edwards endured burns that gave her a traumatic experience at the hospital.

While Edwards survived the dangerous situation, she realized that she could not spend her entire life inside a hospital. In the season finale, Dr. Stephanie steps away from being a surgical resident to rebuild her life.

---

What did Jerrika Hinton say about her exit from Grey's Anatomy?

Since Dr. Stephanie Edwards had a meaningful send-off, Jerrika Hinton was satisfied with the story. While talking about her departure in an interview with ET, the actress acknowledged that her character received a heroic end. Hinton said:

"My heart grows to think that I did get a hero's end - that I got to go out in a way that was not just incredibly human and honest, but also inspirational."

The actress was also offered the key role in a comedy pilot called Toast, and Hinton discussed this with Shonda Rhimes. The Grey's Anatomy star explained to The Hollywood Reporter:

"When Toast didn’t go, I went away and had a spiritual summer in a lot of ways. Shonda [Rhimes] and I had a meeting at the beginning of season 13 where we talked about my departure and my creative process, and she was very supportive of my wishes. And I am eternally grateful to her for understanding."

This way, Stephanie Edwards got a satisfying story, with Jerrika Hinton being incredibly happy with the conclusion of her arc.

---

Also Read: Why did Grey's Anatomy Season 21 premiere pay tribute to Stephanie Leifer? Dedication for TV Executive, explained

Continue exploring SoapCentral for regular updates on TV series, films, and more!