Liputan6.com, Jakarta Actress Leah Lewis has issued her first statement regarding the firing of her co-star, David Del Rio, from the CBS legal drama series "Matlock."
The firing came after Lewis filed sexual harassment allegations against Del Rio.
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The alleged incident reportedly occurred on September 26, prompting swift action from the production and studio.
A report regarding the incident was officially filed on October 2, prompting immediate action from the series' producers and CBS Studios.
David Del Rio was escorted off the set at Paramount on the same day the report was filed.
CBS Studios declined to comment specifically on the matter, but confirmed that Del Rio had left the series.
Multiple outlets, including PEOPLE and TMZ, confirmed Del Rio's departure amid these serious allegations.
David Del Rio's Firing Chronology
The alleged sexual harassment incident involving David Del Rio and Leah Lewis reportedly happened on September 26th on Paramount property.
An official report regarding the incident was filed on October 2nd, prompting a swift response from the "Matlock" production team and CBS Studios.
The same day the report was received, David Del Rio was immediately escorted off the set.
According to TMZ, one of the individuals escorting him was "Matlock" executive producer Eric Christian Olsen.
Del Rio's dismissal from the series was confirmed by multiple media sources, including PEOPLE and TV Insider.
While CBS Studios declined to comment in detail, they confirmed that David Del Rio is no longer part of "Matlock."
Del Rio's character, Billy Martinez, will be removed from future episodes.
Leah Lewis's Emotional Statement
Leah Lewis has finally spoken out for the first time since news of David Del Rio's firing broke.
In a post on her Instagram Story on Thursday, October 9, the actress shared her feelings about the alleged incident.
In her statement, Lewis wrote, "Mom is here, we move forward in love and strength.I am in good hands. Thank you to everyone for all the support and concern.Truly, we move forward in strength. Key word: strength. Please, let this be a lesson."
Lewis also accompanied her post with a photo of herself hugging her mother, suggesting strong family support amidst this difficult situation.
Impact on Matlock Series Production
David Del Rio's departure has had a significant impact on the production of "Matlock," particularly due to his role as Billy Martinez, the best friend of Leah Lewis's character, Sarah Franklin.
The two frequently appeared together on-screen as young, up-and-coming attorneys at the Jacobson Moore law firm.
Billy Martinez's character will be removed from the series for future episodes, which will likely require storyline adjustments.
Despite this, production on the second season of "Matlock" has continued despite the actor's sudden passing, demonstrating a commitment to completing the series.
The series will undergo a scheduled filming hiatus starting next week and running through November, with production set to resume after Thanksgiving.
The second season of "Matlock" is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, October 12th.