Yolonda Ross, who portrays Jada Washington on Showtime’s drama series The Chi, recently explained her character’s departure from the show. Jada, the mother of Jacob Latimore’s Emmett, has been part of The Chi since the first season. Her exit in the Season 7 finale is bound to have a significant impact on the overarching narrative of the show.
Yolonda Ross says Jada’s exit from The Chi wasn’t her decision
Ross discussed her character’s heart-rending departure from The Chi in a new interview with TVLine. In the Season 7 finale, Jada dies of cancer, surrounded by her loved ones, including her newly born granddaughter. The actress disclosed that she found out that Jada was leaving the show “right before the script came out.” She even seemingly hinted that she didn’t choose this ending for her character.
“It sucked,” Ross said about finding out that the seventh season would also be the last one for her on the show. “I mean, it was weird. It’s kind of a mixed bag of things. It’s like, first off, why didn’t I know earlier? But then also, oh wow, now I can do other things.”
In the finale, Jada has come to terms with her impending death, but expresses her wish to meet Emmett’s newborn daughter before that happens. She gets to do that and have a final candid conversation with her son, who informs her that he is not leaving Chicago.
Ross also revealed that Jada’s death was the final scene she shot for The Chi. “We shot it in order,” she elaborated. “It was so weird, because I’m laying in Darnell’s lap, and Emmett comes over and everything. I’m not asleep, but my eyes are closed and stuff is happening on top of me. But then when I got up, after the scene was done, it was a set full of people because all the crew and cast were there. It was that I wasn’t prepared for.”
Showtime has greenlit The Chi Season 8, which can potentially debut sometime in 2026.
Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on ComingSoon.
