The Shocking Truth Behind Jackson West's Exit from The Rookie: Find Out What Titus Makin Jr Is Up to Now!

Titus Makin Jr.'s character in The Rookie, Jackson West, left the series unexpectedly towards the end of season 3, leaving fans to question the reason behind his departure. Throughout the first three seasons, Jackson West played a significant role as a police officer in the Mid-Wilshire Division. However, in the season 3 finale, he and Lopez were kidnapped during a wedding, leading to speculation about his future on the show when he was absent from the promotional material for season 4.

These speculations were confirmed when season 4's first episode revealed that Jackson West had died. CCTV footage showed that he was shot by Sandra de la Cruz's men while attempting to escape. The episode concluded with Angela Lopez paying tribute to Jackson by naming her newborn son after him, providing a poignant and emotional closure to his character. As one of the main protagonists since the beginning of the series, Jackson's death in season 3 is a heartbreaking development.

Jackson West Left The Rookie Because Titus Makin Jr. Didn't Return

According to reports from TVLine, Titus Makin Jr., who portrayed Jackson West on The Rookie, decided not to return for season 4. The show's creators, wanting to pay tribute to his significant contribution to the storyline, closed Jackson West's character arc. Although the exact reasons for Makin's departure were not revealed by showrunner Alexi Hawley, it has been reported that Makin had contemplated leaving the show in 2020 after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

In an interview with EW, Makin shared that he had a realization while watching the news one day – he couldn't continue playing a cop on a show without acknowledging the fact that he was a Black cop. The lack of addressing these issues with his character made him reconsider his decision to play the role on The Rookie. Makin even discussed this with Hawley, expressing his willingness to be written out if that was the best solution. Ultimately, Makin chose to be written out rather than ignore the reality of current events.

What Titus Makin Jr. Has Done Since The Rookie

Following his departure from The Rookie in 2021, Titus Makin Jr. made a guest appearance as Lt. Adam Parish in one episode of NCIS: Hawaiʻi that same year. Additionally, he took on a supporting role in the film On the Come Up and appeared in two short films titled Pool Service, Inc and Aliens on Halloween. In addition to his acting career, Titus Makin Jr. is also a soul/funk singer who goes by the name Butterfly Ali. According to his official website, he released his latest album in 2021 around the time he left The Rookie.

Sources: TVLine, EW, Butterfly Ali official website