This text contains point out of sexual assault.
Warning: SPOILERS forward for Matlock season 2, episode 8!Matlock showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman opens up about how season 2 wrote off David Del Rio after he was fired following a sexual assault allegation. Del Rio has been a essential forged member of Matlock since season 1, portraying Billy Martinez, a first-year affiliate who works beneath Olympia at Jacobson Moore. He turned an necessary ally all through the sequence.
Nonetheless, in October 2025, Del Rio was fired after being accused of sexual assault. Since Matlock season 2 was midway via filming, the actor’s ultimate look occurred in season 2, episode 7. Within the newest episode the next week, the sequence defined that Billy was absent as a result of his girlfriend had suffered a miscarriage. That is established with out Del Rio’s character showing.
Talking with Selection, Snyder Urman defined that the following two episodes of Matlock season 2 would clarify Del Rio’s absence whereas writing Billy out of the present in a becoming manner for the character. When requested in regards to the actor’s firing, she acknowledged that she was “not capable of talk about the occasions,” explaining the forged and crew’s ongoing diligence:
His exit will likely be defined in the midst of the following two episodes, and it’s actually consistent with the character and consistent with what’s taking place with the agency at giant. We wish to stay true to the character.
We simply kind of plugged in and saved transferring ahead. We’re simply all joyful to be again, and targeted on the work. I believe that’s the factor — we would like the present to be nice. We wish it to be joyful for the viewers to observe.
Del Rio was escorted off the set of Matlock season 2 in October following the allegations. Whereas there hasn’t been any affirmation as to who was concerned, Leah Lewis, who performs Sarah Franklin, was allegedly his sufferer. After the information was out, she made an Instagram submit about “transferring ahead in love and energy.” A now-deleted submit from Del Rio’s spouse appeared to mock Lewis’.
Though Del Rio will not be returning to the sequence, the present continues to be planning on following via with ending Billy’s storyline. The aftermath of his girlfriend’s miscarriage will seemingly be what permits the sequence to jot down him out whereas ending up his story. Though it isn’t best, there is not any different manner for the present to realistically conclude his plot with the actor absent.
As of writing, CBS has reopened their investigation into the allegations of assault in opposition to Del Rio, which means there might be extra data to return. Nonetheless, given the severity of the accusation coupled together with his firing, it looks as if he won’t ever be concerned within the sequence once more, even pending an end result to his investigation.
For now, the most important focus for these at present engaged on Matlock seems to be persevering with the sequence’ ongoing storylines with out Del Rio. As different characters take front-and-center, the present’s continuation will seemingly show that it could actually transfer on with out Billy. Nonetheless, it stays to be seen what’s going to occur to the actor within the months to return.
Matlock returns to CBS in 2026.
- Launch Date
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September 22, 2024
- Administrators
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Kat Coiro, Brad Silberling, Gina Lamar, Hanelle M. Culpepper, Jennifer Lynch, Jude Weng, Tessa Blake, Yangzom Brauen, Marie Jamora, Daniel Willis
- Writers
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Nicki Renna, Jeffrey Lieber, Sara Rose Feinberg
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Skye P. Marshall
Olympia Lawrence