‘Matlock‘ Star Leah โคLewis Speaks Out โขFollowing Co-Star David Del Rรญo’s โTermination After Assault Allegations
Leahโ Lewis, star ofโ the rebooted CBS drama โค Matlock, has publicly addressedโข theโฃ recent firing of co-star David Delโฃ Rรญo โขfollowing allegations of sexual assault. Lewis, whoโข plays โfirst-yearโ associate Sarah โขFranklin, shared a message on Instagram emphasizing resilience and โstrength in the wake of the incident.
The firing ofโข Del Rรญo, who portrayed Billy Martรญnez on the series,โ comes after an internal inquiry into anโค incident reported on September 26. Deadline confirmed Del Rรญo was โฃterminated and escortedโฃ off the set the same day theโค alleged assault โคwas reported.The situation has prompted โคa production pause โขfor Matlock โ Season 2, already partially filmed, โฃwith plans toโ resume after Thanksgiving.
Lewis’s post, accompanied โคby aโ photo, stated, “moving forward in strength. Key word, strength.” The message underscores a โคdetermination โฃto continue โdespite โthe disruptionโ and trauma โขcausedโ byโ theโ allegedโข events.
Matlock Season 2 is โขscheduled to โขpremiere on october 12. The show also stars โฃKathy Bates, skye โP. Marshall, Jasonโ Ritter, Eme Ikwuakor, Aaron Harris, Sam Anderson, Beauโข Bridges, and, newly joining the cast in a recurring โคrole, Justina โMachado. The โคinvestigationโค and subsequent firing of Del โRรญo highlight the entertainment industry’s ongoing reckoning with issues ofโ workplace safety and accountability.โ Production will continue โfollowing a pre-planned hiatus.