The Chi: Jada Actor Seemingly Confirms Why She Left the Show – And It Wasn’t Her Choosing

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Actress Yolonda Ross shared the reason behind her departure from the TV show ‘The Chi’, following the heartbreaking demise of her character Jada in the Season 7 finale. Since joining the cast as Jada Washington in Season 1, Ross had been a consistent presence on the Showtime series. In this drama, Jola is portrayed as Emmett’s mother, and her compassionate nature and unwavering loyalty towards her son make her an exceptional character within the show.

In The Chi’s fourth season, Jada received a shocking diagnosis – an aggressive type of cancer. Remarkably, she managed to achieve remission by the end of season 4. However, in the seventh season’s seventh episode, her cancer surprisingly reappeared, and the outlook was grim this time around.

In the South Side of Chicago, the neighborhood where Lena Waithe’s series The Chi takes place, saw its seventh season premiere on May 18, 2025. This compelling show features Jason Mitchell, Ntare Guma Mbaho, Mwine, Jacob Latimore, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tiffany Boone as the main characters.

Why Jada Left The Chi: ‘It Sucked’

In the final episode of The Chi’s seventh season, Jada Washington’s emotional demise occurred as she lost her battle against terminal cancer. Despite knowing that her time was running out, she held on tightly, hoping to witness her newborn grandchild for the very first and last time.

In my situation, as I prepare for my final moments while Emmett and Keisha handle the home water birth, there’s one heartfelt wish I have for Darnell: to be with my grandchild and Emmett in these last moments of mine. Fortunately, before I left this world, I was granted the precious sight of the newborn and learned that they had chosen a name that honors my own grandmother.

In addition to discussing matters with Emmett, he informed his mother that he wouldn’t depart from Chicago because he planned on improving the city. The finale of Season 7 suggested that Jada had come to terms with her destiny, understanding that her influence would live on through Emmett, Keisha, and their new baby.

Regarding Yolonda Ross, the actress who portrayed Jada Washington for seven seasons in The Chi, her departure from the show was both joyful and sad because it wasn’t a decision she made herself. In an interview with TV Line, Ross revealed that she learned about her exit just before receiving the script, stating that it was unfortunate and a “mixed bag of things.” Despite the bittersweet nature of her exit, Ross appears eager to pursue new opportunities following her seven-season run on The Chi.

TVLINE: “| When did you find out that this season would be the last for her?”

Yolonda Ross: “Oh, when you guys did.”

TVLINE: “Really?”

Ross: “Yep. Right before the script came out.”

TVLINE: “What was that like?”

Ross: “It wasn’t great, quite unusual actually. It’s a bit of an assortment of feelings. Initially, I was thinking ‘Why wasn’t I told sooner?’ but then, ‘Wow, this opens up new possibilities for me!’

In a similar vein, Yolonda Ross has decided to part ways with other prominent characters from “The Chi,” including Rob (played by Iman Shumpert) and Dre (portrayed by Miriam A. Hyman), in the cast list for the Showtime series.

How Jada’s Exit Impacts The Chi Season 8 & Beyond

Yolonda Ross leaving her role as Jada Washington in The Chi is heartbreaking, and it will significantly impact the storyline since the series is losing a guiding force and moral compass for key characters such as Emmett.

In Emmett’s last conversation with Jada in “The Chi,” his vow to improve Chicago sets a positive course for his character. However, there’s apprehension since Jada has been crucial in supporting and comprehending him deeply. If he were to lose this vital influence, it could greatly affect Emmett’s storyline in Season 8.

Since becoming a father, Emmett must take on more responsibility, yet he may encounter hurdles due to his lingering sorrow over the loss of his mother. Furthermore, the role of being a new mother presents unique challenges for Kiesha, particularly as she looks up to Jada as a guide in this new phase of life.

Meanwhile, Darnell’s already-tense relationship with his son, Damien, might be affected further due to his grief potentially intensifying his irritation towards him. However, there’s a possibility that Darnell could decide to mend his bond with Damien, as he may come to understand the brevity of life following Jada’s passing from cancer.

All in all, the characters of The Chi will forever be changed by Jada’s death. 

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2025-08-04 23:05