Is Callie leaving Seattle? Sara Ramirez set off a panic with Grey’s Anatomy fans on Thursday, April 28, when some thought she was saying goodbye to the series in a cryptic tweet.
“That’s a wrap for Doctor #CallieTorres #Season13 #GreysAnatomy,” Ramirez, 40, wrote. “#ThankYou all for an enriching & unforgettable #Rollercoaster ride!”
That’s a wrap for Doctor #CallieTorres #Season13 #GreysAnatomy #ThankYou all for an enriching & unforgettable #Rollercoaster ride! ❤️??????
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) April 27, 2016
As to be expected, Grey’s lovers quickly took notice — and shared their dismay at the possibility of her character’s exit from the long-running ABC medical drama that has killed off several of its past stars. “PLEASE TELL ME CALLIE IS STILL ALIVE,” one person wrote. A second added: “Calliope Torres best still be alive for season 13. I swear.”
Despite the reactions, Ramirez didn’t delete her remark. Instead, she promoted the next episode of the series. “#TGIT #BuckleUp for the ride! #GreysAnatomy,” she wrote.
Ramirez has played Dr. Callie Torres since the character’s introduction in season 2. Her current story line makes it very possible for an exit, as Callie has already decided to move to NYC with her girlfriend Penny (Samantha Sloyan). She’s also about to enter a nasty custody battle with Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw).
If the actress does leave the show, she would be far from the first. Katherine Heigl (Dr. Izzie Stevens) said goodbye in 2010 to focus on her movie career. (She also exited amid an ongoing feud with showrunner Shonda Rhimes.) Sandra Oh decided to end her run as Dr. Cristina Yang in 2014 after 10 seasons. Isaiah Washington, who played Dr. Preston Burke, was fired in 2007 after saying a racial slur at costar T.R. Knight.
And then there were those beloved characters who died. The most shocking deaths have included Dr. Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), Dr. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), Dr. George O’Malley (Knight) and Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey).
Us Weekly has reached out to Ramirez’s rep amid the speculation. ABC declined to comment.
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.