‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Stars React to April and Arizona’s Last Episode
The day has finally come. Sarah Drew and Jessica Capshaw have officially left Grey’s Anatomy, and though they shared several goodbye messages in advance of the finale, their final farewells, and the goodbyes from their costars, are next-level emotional.
Jesse Williams, who played Drew’s on-screen love, shared a sweet set of pics with his costar, writing, “Y’all have no idea how much work we both put into these stories. The late nights, rehearsals, and rewrites. The patience, frustration, and tears. You didn’t always love us. Some things take time, effort, and trust. #Japril will last forever for a reason. #ThankYouSarahDrew.”
Drew and Capshaw (who played Dr. April Kepner and Dr. Arizona Robbins) first announced they were leaving the show in March. Meredith Grey herself, Ellen Pompeo, who threw her support behind her costars in the weeks leading up to their departure, said saying goodbye was very hard, but that the show must go on. “What remains and what keeps us going is the incredible passion and loyalty of our fans,” she wrote on Instagram. “So in classic Grey’s bittersweet style, we will leave you tonight with tears in your eyes and hopefully smiles on your faces.”
Grey’s creator Shonda Rhimes shouted out the representation that both April and Arizona — who were a devout Christian and at one time the only lesbian series regular on TV, respectively — demonstrated. “I will never stop being grateful for the chance to work with @sarahdrew and @JessicaCapshaw,” she said. “In April and Arizona, they created powerful unforgettable characters.”
I will never stop being grateful for the chance to work with @sarahdrew and @JessicaCapshaw. In April and Arizona, they created powerful unforgettable characters. ❤️ #GreysAnatomy #TGIT
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) May 18, 2018
The show’s crew even got in on the goodbyes, giving Drew and Capshaw custom boxes full of pictures and letters from everyone on the show. Both actresses shared multiple photos from their last day on set on Instagram, shouting out their fellow cast members and reflecting on their time on the show. Capshaw even described filming her final scene as “a full blown meltdown. A cathartic, wild, full-force processing of a decade.” Our hearts!
Drew took to Instagram with a trio of pics to write her impassioned goodbye. “I’ve lived with April nine months out of the year every year for nine years. She’s a part of me. I’m a part of her,” she said. “I got to be a part of a show that continues to push boundaries, inspire people to pursue their dreams, find strength in hardship, and fight for what they believe in. What an honor and a privilege to have had the chance to be a part of this extraordinary family.”
We’ll miss you, April and Arizona!
Are you sad to see April and Arizona leave Grey’s? Let us know @BritandCo.
(photos via ABC/Bob D’Amico)
