At Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, a second physician is working. Days after it was announced that her co-star Jake Borelli (Dr. Levi Schmitt) was also departing Grey’s Anatomy, Midori Francis announced she was leaving the show as Dr. Mika Yasuda. Furthermore, they might not be alone. What, therefore, is the cause of the mass departure from Grey’s Anatomy?
Why is Midori Francis leaving Grey’s Anatomy?
News broke on May 15, 2024, that Francis, who has played Dr. Mika Yasuda since Season 19, was leaving Grey’s Anatomy after two seasons. As for why she’s leaving, Deadline reported at the time that the decision was “amicable” between Francis and ABC, as the actress had been looking to expand for the next step of her career after signing with a new agency, WME, earlier in 2024. The magazine also reported that Francis was in negotiations to appear in Season 21 of Grey’s Anatomy to wrap up her character’s storyline.
Given that another co-star was fired, money may also have played a role in Francis’ departure. Francis’ departure was announced a few days after it was revealed that Jake Borelli, her co-star who has been playing Dr. Levi Schmitt since Season 14, would also be leaving the show after seven seasons. When Grey’s Anatomy’s Season 21 renewal came with budget cuts due to the show’s declining linear ratings, a source told Deadline at the time that Borelli’s departure was the cause.
The medical drama on Grey’s Anatomy is costly to produce because of its large cast, which includes two characters who have been there since Season 1: James Pickett Jr. (Richard Webber) and Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey). As a result, financial decisions were made to let go of Borelli and possibly Francis. Other cast members will have fewer episodes in season 21 in addition to Borelli and Francis leaving, sources informed Deadline. Although many cast members will have fewer guaranteed episodes per season, the cast will not be subject to per-episode pay cutbacks from their overall remuneration.
Francis joined Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Mika Yasuda, a new intern at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, in Season 19, along with four other interns: Dr. Benson “Blue” Kwan (played by Harry Shum Jr.); Dr. Jules Millin (played by Adelaide Kane); Dr. Lucas Adams (played by Niko Terho); and Dr. Simone Griffith (played by Alexis Floyd). She was the first intern from the group, which was added to revitalize the series before original star Ellen Pompeo’s exit as Dr. Meredith Grey in the Season 19 finale, to exit the medical drama.
Why is Dr. Mika Yasuda leaving Grey’s Anatomy?
ABC hinted at the reason Mika was leaving Grey’s Anatomy in Season 21, Episode 4, “This One’s for the Girls,” which saw Mika bring her younger sister Chloe to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and learn that Chloe’s cancer was more advanced than she thought. “I had a feeling it would be a personal matter that would be the reason for Mika’s departure!,” a user commented on a YouTube promo of the episode. Another wrote, “Is this Mika’s exit story.”
In Season 21, Episode 7, “If You Leave,” Mika and Chloe were engaged in a car accident after Mika dozed off while driving them home from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital after Chloe’s colorectal cancer treatment. Chloe and Mika both suffered serious injuries in the collision, but only Mika made it out alive; by the end of the show, Chloe had passed away from her wounds. The following episode, “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” which was the midseason finale of Grey’s Anatomy Season 21, featured Mika thinking about her future at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital after her sister passed away. Fans took this to be her farewell narrative.