Grey's Anatomy exit: Why is Jake Borelli leaving as Levi Schmitt after seven years?

Why is Jake Borelli leaving Grey’s Anatomy as Levi Schmitt?

Grey’s Anatomy first introduced Levi in season 14 when he was an intern and over the past seven years, he has worked his way up to a senior resident, now working with interns himself. 

It reportedly wasn’t Borelli’s decision to leave the show sadly, as it has been widely reported that Grey’s Anatomy’s season 21 renewal came with a budget cut. 

This meant that the cast would also be impacted with stars having a reduction in their episode guarantees, so they will appear in fewer episodes. 

It is believed that these budget cuts is the reason behind Borelli making his exit from Grey’s Anatomy in season 21.

Since joining the show, Levi has had a number of major storylines, including spiralling after losing a patient and being the only intern in his class to stay on after the residency programme. 

He actually made Grey’s history though back in season 15 when he was part of an LGBTQ+ storyline. 

The series introduced its first openly gay male character Nico Kim (Alex Landi), with him and Levi sharing the first kiss between two male doctors.

Their romance blossomed into the first gay romance with two men on Grey’s Anatomy and led to Borelli publicly also coming out as a gay man.

In more recent years, Levi has been focused on guiding new interns through the challenges of becoming a surgeon. 

There was also a sad moment in the previous series when he bumped into his ex-boyfriend Nico who was now in a new relationship and expecting his first child via surrogate. 

Fans will just have to wait and see how Levi will make his own exit from Grey’s Anatomy.

Grey’s Anatomy is available to watch on ABC and Disney+.