The Mysterious Disappearance of Bennett in Orange Is The New Black

Summary

Fans were left in shock when John Bennett made an unexpected exit from Orange Is the New Black during season 3. His character decided to resign from his job and walk away from Daya after realizing the potential hardships their child would face with her mother's boyfriend.

The confirmation of Bennett's involvement in Cesar's arrest or his reconciliation with Daya and their child remains uncertain, despite speculation. He received minimal mention in subsequent seasons.

Actor Matt McGorry departed from the show due to his belief that the complex relationship between Bennett and Daya could not reach a favorable conclusion. In addition, he cited the cast's severe underpayment as a contributing factor that influenced his decision to pursue other projects.

John Bennett, a beloved character from Orange Is the New Black, unexpectedly departed from the show in season 3. Many fans wondered what led to his departure and why he left Daya. Despite being a fan-favorite and having a romantic relationship with another popular character, Dayanara “Daya” Diaz, Bennett was unexpectedly written out of the show for good. Although Matt McGorry later appeared in other shows like How to Get Away with Murder, his sudden disappearance from Orange Is the New Black took fans by surprise.

Introduced in season 1 of Orange Is the New Black, Bennett was a correctional officer at Litchfield Prison. There, he began a relationship with Daya, an inmate, which eventually led to her becoming pregnant. However, as season 3 commenced, he started to grow concerned about his relationship with Daya's family, particularly Cesar, her mother's boyfriend. Suddenly, the character of Bennett was written off the show and made his last appearance in season 3, episode 2.

How Bennett Left Orange Is The New Black

By the end of that episode, Bennett quit his job at Litchfield after proposing to Daya. He left her because he realized the kind of life their child would have with Cesar and chose to end things with her. Although Bennett was no longer seen on Orange Is the New Black before it ended, later episodes confirmed his permanent departure from Daya. However, it’s also possible that he played a role in the conclusion of Cesar’s season 3 storyline. He was the only character, apart from Daya and her mother, who was aware of Cesar’s whereabouts and the extent of his drug operation. Hence, it’s plausible that he alerted the DEA, leading to Cesar’s arrest.

What Did Bennett Do After Leaving?

The Cesar theory was not directly confirmed by the canon of Orange Is the New Black. Despite the show's official explanation for his disappearance, Dascha Polanco, the actress who portrayed Daya, expressed her thoughts on what happened to Bennett after season 3 and beyond the conclusion of Orange Is the New Black. Polanco believes that Bennett never reconciled with Daya nor had any interaction with their child. This belief seems to be supported by the fact that Bennett never reappeared in later seasons of the show. While there were a few references to his disappearance and departure from Litchfield in subsequent episodes of season 3, the character was hardly mentioned again.

Why Did Matt McGorry Leave Orange Is The New Black

Matt McGorry expressed ambivalence towards his portrayal of Bennett on Orange is the New Black. He emphasized the need to dispel the idealized image of a romantic relationship between Daya and Bennett. McGorry highlighted that even though their relationship may have had mutual feelings, it could never be considered consensual due to the power dynamics between a prison guard and an inmate. When McGorry departed from the show, he faced backlash as the character Bennett turned into an absentee father. However, due to the complexity of their relationship, it was almost inevitable for Bennett to leave Daya. McGorry believed that the scenario where they remain together in prison, with him patiently waiting for her to complete her sentence and then raising their child in bliss, was unlikely to occur in reality.

McGorry's statement about the casting changes on Orange is the New Black being a storyline decision may not be the only reason for the changes. Recent news suggests that the cast was significantly underpaid. This was highlighted when Kimiko Glenn disclosed that she received a royalty check of only $27.30 from the show. McGorry further shocked by stating that they had to keep their day job as it paid better than the successful TV show they were on. Bennett's departure from the show may have led McGorry to earn more when transitioning to How to Get Away With Murder.