Why did Gina Linetti leave Brooklyn Nine-Nine? Chelsea Peretti's exit, explored

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is counted among the most iconic sitcoms of recent times. The show aired eight seasons between 2013 and 2021 and is still remembered for its hilarious moments and impressive ensemble.

The series follows a group of detectives working in the New York City Police Department. Though most of the main cast members remained associated with the series till the end, Chelsea Peretti, who played Gina Linetti, decided to exit in the sixth season.

Gina Linetti worked as the civilian administrator at the 99th Precinct and was known for her sarcastic humor and over-the-top personality. Gina left Brooklyn Nine-Nine in season 6 episode 4, as she felt her talent would be better utilized in other domains.

While actress Chelsea Peretti never explicitly revealed the reason behind her departure, she confirmed that her exit was amicable, and she remains friends with the series creators. The actress later made guest appearances in the show in several episodes.

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Why did Gina Linetti leave Brooklyn Nine-Nine?

Gina Linetti was always known for her sharp wit and confidence in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. However, since she was not a police officer, it sometimes felt like she did not fit into the main storylines as well as the rest of the squad. Reflecting on her career, Gina decided to leave the team in season 6.

In the season’s third episode, "The Tattler," Gina attends her high school reunion along with Jake, where Jake learns Gina was the one who tattled on his old friend back in the day. During a heartfelt conversation, Gina admitted that she felt like she was not reaching her full potential at the precinct.

Jake agreed, saying she had way more talent than her job allowed her to use. This conversation made Gina realize it was time for a new challenge, and by the end of the episode, she announced that she was quitting.

In season 6 episode 4, "Four Movements," Gina's last days at the precinct were showcased. She spent time with each of her co-workers, giving them special moments to remember her by.

Gina taught Captain Holt how to trash talk, forced Amy to burn a book of her own hard work, and tricked Jake into helping her sneak into an exclusive club just so she could reject a celebrity guest at her going-away party.

Even after her official last day, Gina kept delaying her departure. Finally, she left behind one last gift: a giant gold statue of herself. She later sent the team a video message explaining that the statue's shipping delay was the real reason she kept hanging around.

Gina made sure her farewell was just as dramatic, hilarious, and unforgettable as her. With that, she officially ended her term as a series regular on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. However, Gina was not gone forever. She continued to make guest appearances in the later episodes and was also seen in the series finale.

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The reason behind Chelsea Peretti's departure from Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Chelsea Peretti's exit was announced from Brooklyn Nine-Nine in 2018; however, the actress never revealed the real reason behind quitting the hit series. At the time of her departure, she had an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where she only hinted that her exit was a mutual decision with the series creators:

“No one can ever fully say the whole story of what’s going on. But the gist is it was somewhat mutual. And it was amicable. That’s the best way I can put it.”

Peretti added that she felt the time was right to say goodbye to the show, and she continues to be friends with series co-creator Dan Goor and lead star Andy Samberg:

“I can’t get into the exact breakdown of how it all transpired, but it wasn’t just my solo decision. I’m friends with Dan, I’m friends with Andy [Samberg], I’ve talked with them about the situation over the years. I think it came together this was the time to do it.”

Since exiting Brooklyn Nine-Nine as a series regular, Peretti has appeared in films like The Photograph, Friendsgiving, and First Time Female Director and played a voice role in Sing 2.

All seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine are streaming on Peacock.