https://deadline.com/2021/05/jesse-williams-leaving-greys-anatomy-jackson-avery-12-seasons-1234750666/

Williams will say goodbye to his character Jackson Avery in the May 20 episode, two weeks before the June 3 Season 17 finale. The news was revealed on Thursday's episode featuring his reunion with Sarah Drew's April Kepner. “Jesse Williams is an extraordinary artist and activist. Watching his evolution these past 11 years both on screen and off has been a true gift,” Grey's showrunner Krista Vernoff said in a statement. “Jesse brings so much heart, such depth of care, and so much intelligence to his work. We will miss Jesse terribly and we will miss Jackson Avery — played to perfection for so many years.” Williams' contract is up at the end of this season. Grey's Anatomy hasn't been picked up for Season 18, but is expected to be. ALSO: Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. urge people to get vaccinated in a COVID PSA (https://people.com/tv/greys-anatomy-chandra-wilson-james-pickens-jr-urge-people-to-get-vaccinated-covid-psa/).

Sarah Drew reacts to Jesse Williams leaving Grey's Anatomy, says she'd be up for a "Japril" spinoff (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/greys-anatomy-sarah-drew-on-jesse-williams-exit-jackson-april-end-1234949916/)

“I was excited to get to be a part of his departure,” Drew said in a media call this morning. “That relationship between the two of us and ‘Japril’ is so meaningful to both of us. It felt like the perfect time to come back and do a special episode to be able to help Jackson make his big departure.” Drew added: "I’ve never been shy about wanting Japril to be endgame; it’s what I wanted the whole time. One of my biggest heartbreaks leaving in season 14 is that they didn’t get to be endgame. But who knows what happens when they make their way to Boston.” Drew also said Jackson Avery's exit sets up an opportunity for a spinoff (https://www.eonline.com/news/1267070/sarah-drew-thinks-japril-should-be-endgame-and-is-down-for-a-grey-s-anatomy-spinoff) with him and her character April Kepner. "Yes, how cool would that show be?" Drew said when asked if she'd be into the idea. "How amazing and needed is a show about racial justice in the medical field? I got so fired up watching the episode last night because Jesse Williams just freaking killed it. His passion! I mean, his passion for all of this stuff shines through...I just kept thinking, like, how cool would this couple be?" ALSO: Ellen Pompeo reflects on doing a Grey's stunt, after her stunt double got a concussion, because she didn't want to seem "difficult." (https://tvline.com/2021/05/07/greys-anatomy-ellen-pompeo-season-2-stunt-explosion/)

Shonda Rhimes honors Jesse Williams as he exits Grey's Anatomy (https://twitter.com/shondarhimes/status/1395545625425367040)

Williams' "talent on this show has been powerful," Rhimes tweeted. "What he has chosen to do with that power has been culture-shifting. ('just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we aren’t real' - damn!) Writing 'Jackson Avery' was my honor. Knowing Jesse Williams the man is a gift."

ALSO:


How Jackson Avery said goodbye to Grey Sloan Memorial (https://deadline.com/2021/05/greys-anatomy-jesse-williams-dr-jackson-avery-farewell-grey-sloan-memorial-1234761308/)
Grey's fans pay tribute to Jackson Avery on Twitter (https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/jackson-avery-last-greys-anatomy-episode-jesse-williams-tweets)
Grey's Anatomy had another surprise in store for Thursday's episode (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/greys-anatomy-greg-germann-exit-season-17-1234956856/)


Jesse Williams: My Grey's Anatomy departure was "an organic, collective decision" (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/greys-anatomy-why-jesse-williams-left-exit-interview-1234957310/)

"It wasn’t something I had to tell anybody," Williams tells The Hollywood Reporter. "It was something we found and understood and were trying to honor it and do properly. It was a team effort throughout. It didn’t feel like any one of us coming to the other and having an outcome predetermined. We wrote something together and this is what it was." Williams adds: "It came up this season. It was a combination of trying to figure out with (showrunner) Krista (Vernoff) and the team what makes sense and what’s next for Jackson. His pot is kind of bubbling over. What does he need to be doing? He’s been on this off-screen path of self-discovery, he’s had trouble with abandonment issues and had unfinished business with his dad and, after his marriage ended and April went away, he’s been unable to maintain real connection and romantic relationships and platonic relationships. He’s thrown himself into work. Jackson left a few times but also was never a part of any community. Being an Avery, he was expected to go into surgery. But what else is there? He was never involved in anything that was happening and the world was coming to a boil. He’s been in bubble wrap his whole life and needed to do something and connect to something he was passionate about that wasn’t just his profession. It felt organic that Jackson had to change his environment and was willing to make a connection to something. What if he goes with his gut instead of his legacy? What if he goes to what’s true to him? Watching what’s happening in the streets and how it impacts Black and brown folks, it made sense that he needs to venture off and shed the shelter and try something new — or use it to do something that he’s passionate about."

ALSO:


Jesse Williams on a "Japril" spinoff (https://tvline.com/2021/05/21/greys-anatomy-why-did-jesse-williams-leave-jackson-avery-interview/): "We’ll see," he says. "I’m not entirely sure. There is certainly a part of me that is compelled to go out into the wilderness as well (as Jackson) and do something different and new, so I’m very excited to do that."
Williams feels "humbled" by the response from Grey's fans (https://ew.com/tv/jesse-williams-on-jacksons-greys-anatomy-departure/)