Another doctor is scrubbing out at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. News broke that Midori Francis was leaving Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Mika Yasuda just days after reports that her co-star, Jake Borelli (Dr. Levi Schmitt), was also exiting. And they may not be the only ones. So what’s the reason for the mass exodus at Grey’s Anatomy? Read on for what we know.
Why is Midori Francis leaving Grey’s Anatomy?
News broke on May 15, 2024, that Francis, who has played Dr. Mika Yasuda since Season 19, was leaving Grey’s Anatomy after two seasons. As for why she’s leaving, Deadline reported at the time that the decision was “amicable” between Francis and ABC, as the actress had been looking to expand for the next step of her career after signing with a new agency, WME, earlier in 2024. The magazine also reported that Francis was in negotiations to appear in Season 21 of Grey’s Anatomy to wrap up her character’s storyline.
The reason for Francis’ exit could also do with money based on another co-star’s firing. News of Francis’ exit came days after it was reported that her co-star, Jake Borelli, who has played Dr. Levi Schmitt since Season 14, was also exiting the series after seven seasons. A source told Deadline at the time that Borelli’s exit was a result of budget cuts that came with Grey’s Anatomy’s Season 21 renewal amid the series’ decline in linear ratings.
Due to Grey’s Anatomy‘s large cast, including two cast members who have been on the series since Season 1 — Chandra wilson (Miranda Bailey) and James Pickett Jr. (Richard Webber) — the medical drama is expensive to make, which led to financial decisions such as letting go of Borelli and maybe Francis. Along with Borelli and Francis’ exits, sources also told Deadline that other cast members will have a reduced amount of episodes for season 21. The cast won’t take per-episode pay cuts from the overall compensation, however, many cast members will have a lower amount of guaranteed episodes per season.
Francis joined Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Mika Yasuda, a new intern at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, in Season 19, along with four other interns: Dr. Benson “Blue” Kwan (played by Harry Shum Jr.); Dr. Jules Millin (played by Adelaide Kane); Dr. Lucas Adams (played by Niko Terho); and Dr. Simone Griffith (played by Alexis Floyd). She was the first intern from the group, which was added to revitalize the series before original star Ellen Pompeo’s exit as Dr. Meredith Grey in the Season 19 finale, to exit the medical drama.
Why is Dr. Mika Yasuda leaving Grey’s Anatomy?
ABC hinted at the reason Mika was leaving Grey’s Anatomy in Season 21, Episode 4, “This One’s for the Girls,” which saw Mika bring her younger sister Chloe to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and learn that Chloe’s cancer was more advanced than she thought. “I had a feeling it would be a personal matter that would be the reason for Mika’s departure!,” a user commented on a YouTube promo of the episode. Another wrote, “Is this Mika’s exit story.”
Mika and Chloe were involved in a car crash in Season 21, Episode 7, “If You Leave,” after Mika fell asleep at the wheel while driving her and Chloe home from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital following treatment for Chloe’s colorectal cancer. Both Mika and Chloe were critically injured from the crash, however, only Mika survived with Chloe succumbing to her injuries and dying by the end of the episode. The next episode — Grey’s Anatomy Season 21’s midseason finale, “Drop It Like It’s Hot” — saw Mika contemplating her future at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital following her sister’s death, which fans interpreted as her exit storyline.