Brandon Johnson is no more.
Deadline reports that the popular character, played by embattled actor Jason Mitchell, will be killed in the upcoming season of The Chi.
“There is a lot of great life in The Chi, and there’s also death in The Chi,” Gary Levine, Showtime’s Co-President of Entertainment, said during a panel at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Friday. “That’s how we’ll be dealing with it,” he said of Mitchell’s departure.
In May, Mitchell was dismissed from the Showtime series after allegations of inappropriate behavior surfaced. Additionally, as we reported at The Root, he was released from both UTA and Authentic Talent & Literary Management for representation, as well as upcoming projects such as Good Universe’s Desperados.
“We were made aware at the time that the allegations were made,” Jana Winograde, Showtime’s other Co-President of Entertainment, said on Friday on the same panel. “We are not the lead studio, the lead studio is Fox, but even when we are not lead studio we tend to be involved and were made aware of the allegations. They (Fox 21) conducted a thorough investigation. After that investigation, we all made the decision together that it was appropriate at that time to give him some training and guidance on appropriate behavior on set.”
Despite Mitchell’s dismissal, Levine believes the show will continue to captivate audiences.
“I think it will be our best ever,” he said of the upcoming season, in which creator/executive producer Lena Waithe will have an onscreen role. “The stories remain incredibly vibrant.”