Sudden Departure Shock: Renee Rapp Abruptly Exits Max’s ‘Sex Lives of College Girls’ in Season 3
Actress Renee Rapp bids farewell to her role as Leighton in 'Sex Lives of College Girls' as she departs the series in its upcoming third season
Reneé Rapp Katrina Marcinowski/HBO Max
Reneé Rapp announced on Instagram that she will be departing from Sex Lives of College Girls, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and the impact her character has had on her life. She thanks the showrunners and the network for believing in her and acknowledges the significance of her portrayal of Leighton, a queer character, in the representation of the LGBTQ+ community. Rapp is excited for the upcoming season and looks forward to sharing what's in store for her character and the rest of the girls.
Series creator Mindy Kaling confirmed the news on Instagram, expressing her love for @reneerapp and the sadness of saying goodbye to Leighton Murray. However, she also expressed excitement about seeing her friend on tour. Deadline reported that Rapp will make a few appearances in season 3 before leaving the series.
The television show "Sex Lives of College Girls" premiered in 2021 and features Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, and Alyah Chanelle Scott. The series follows four college freshmen as they navigate their sexualities and the challenges of life at the fictional Essex College in Vermont. Following the conclusion of season 2 in 2022, there is uncertainty about what to expect in future episodes. Actress Rapp expressed her lack of knowledge about the series' future, as she is currently occupied with filming Mean Girls: The Musical and working on her album. However, she did confirm that season 3 is in progress.
Gracie Dzienny and Reneé Rapp Katrina Marcinowski/HBO Max
Apart from her appearance on Sex Lives of College Girls, Rapp has recently partnered with Interscope Records and unveiled her first EP, entitled "Everything to Everyone," in 2022. Furthermore, she showcased her talent as Regina George in the Broadway adaptation of the renowned film Mean Girls and will be reprising the same role in the forthcoming film Mean Girls: The Musical.
Rapp's highly anticipated debut studio album, Snow Angel, is set to be released on August 18. The album features captivating tracks that draw inspiration from both timeless pop and R&B genres. To support the release, she has planned an extensive international tour for the fall season.
In addition to Rapp, other cast members have also departed from Sex Lives of College Girls throughout the years. Gavin Leatherwood surprised viewers by revealing exclusively to We in March 2022 that he would not reprise his role as Nico for season 2.
"I won't be returning," he informed Us at the time. "Although it was an incredible experience and I think Mindy is brilliant, along with the lovely cast, there are numerous exciting opportunities out there. We want to explore new horizons and pursue other projects, so that's the direction we're taking."
Leatherwood, 29, expressed his desire to explore new opportunities after being part of the first season. A source close to the streaming platform later confirmed that the actor will not be returning for future episodes.
In the season 2 premiere in November 2022, it was disclosed that Nico was expelled from Essex College. Leighton, portrayed by Rapp, who played Nico's sister, revealed that investigations led to the expulsion of several members of the Thetas. Fortunately, Nico's father made a substantial donation to Cornell and secured him a place for the next semester.
