Despite having an integral role and a promising future in the ABC police procedural, Afton Williamson departed fromThe Rookieafter season 1. The series debuted in 2018 witha premise following John Nolan(played byactor Nathan Fillion), a 45-year-old Pennsylvanian divorcee who pursues a new career as a police officerin the LAPD. His late occupation shift makes him the oldest rookie on the force, andThe Rookieexplores his determination to overcome ageist skepticism and the dangerously unpredictable nature of the job. InThe Rookieseason 1, Nolan courageously begins training in the LAPD’s rookie program.
Under Afton Williamson’s training officer, Talia Bishop, Nolan begins to learn the ropesand, at times, is allowed to take charge out on the field. Bishop is not only essential to Nolan’s growth in the LAPD, but she also has important goals of her own - to rise in the ranks and eventually become Chief of Police. In a shocking and unexpected turn of events, Bishop’s training of Nolan and aspiration toward becoming the LAPD’s chief were curtailed whenWilliamson quitThe Rookiein 2019 after serious claims of behind-the-scenes conflict.
Afton Williamson Left The Rookie Amid Allegations Of Discrimination & Harassment
Williamson Alleged The BTS Conflicts Lasted Throughout The Rookie Season 1
Warning: The following section includes mentions of bullying, discrimination, and sexual harassment.
Per theLos Angeles Times, Williamson’s allegations first came out whenThe Rookiestar publicized her departure from the series on Instagram in early August 2019. In a post, she announced thatshe would not be returning forThe Rookieseason 2 because she endured racial discrimination and racially charged comments from the production’s hair department and bullying from executive producers. Williamson also alleged to have encountered sexual harassment at the hands ofThe Rookie’srecurring guest star, Demetrius Grosse and harassment that escalated into assault by hair department head Sally Ciganovich. See Williamson’s full post below:
Over a month after Williamson’s allegations, the production studio behindThe Rookie, eOne, released a statement revealing thatan independent third-party investigation had cleared those accused of inappropriate conduct. To this, Williamson replied in another Instagram post:
“What saddens me the most is that the lengths that were taken to Deceive, Lie, and Cover Up the Truth, were far greater than those made to Protect and Maintain a Safe Working Environment for Employees.”
The conflict seemed to have fizzled out after Williamson’s response but not before leaving calamity in its wake.The Rookieprematurely lost one of its main cast members - and, while it’s unclear whether the actress decided to leave the public spotlight behind or had trouble finding roles after speaking out, Williamson has not had many acting credits since.
AfterThe Rookie, Williamson acted in the 2019 movieOtherhoodand the 2020 filmStill Herebut has not been in any other projects.
How The Rookie Wrote Out Talia Bishop
Bishop Silently Leaves The LAPD To Become An ATF Special Agent
Following Williamson’s departure,The Rookiewrote out Bishop very early on in season 2. In the season 2 premiere “Impact,” it is revealed thatBishop quit the LAPD and joined the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as a special agent.The Rookiedevelopment wasn’t too hard to believe, as Bishop made a reprehensible decision in the course of the first season that would have put her job at stake at some point in the future of the series. More specifically, Bishop omitted information she should have included in her application to the police academy.
Although Bishop later rectified her actions,The Rookieused her mistake as a strategy for Williamson’s character exit, where she’d moved on to the ATF to start her career anew.
In season 1, episode 18, entitled “Homefront,” audiences meet Bishop’s estranged foster brother, Dylan Scott (Caleb Castille). Bishop struggled to reconnect with Dylan not because she didn’t want to but because she was ashamed of his former illegal activities. Her foster brother’s criminal history weighed on her mind to the point that she didn’t list their relationship on her academy application. Although Bishop later rectified her actions,The Rookieused her mistake as a strategy for Williamson’s character exit, where she’d moved on to the ATF to start her career anew.
What Afton Williamson Has Done Since Leaving The Rookie
Williamson’s Last On-Screen Roles Was In 2020
Following Afton Williamson’s controversial exit fromThe Rookie, the actor managed to score two movie roles. The first found Williamson starring opposite acclaimed actorslike Angela Bassettand Patricia Arquette as Julia inOtherhood. The movie follows a trio of middle-aged mothers with adult sons who have seemingly moved on with their own lives. After being ignored on Mother’s Day, the three women head into New York City to confront their sons.
In the year after she appeared in the lighthearted comedyOtherhood, Williamson also had a starring role in the crime dramaStill Here. The movie centers around the investigation into a missing 12-year-old girl and the devastating reaction from her loved ones. Williamson played Tiffany Watson, the mother of the missing girl.
Unfortunately,these two films marked the last time to date Williamson has appeared on-screen. It has been seen many times in Hollywood that people who speak up about alleged harassment or unacceptable working environments can find it hard to get roles afterward which could account for Williamson’s slow career afterThe Rookie.
The Rookie
Cast
The Rookie follows John Nolan, a small-town man who embarks on a new career as an LAPD officer after a life-changing event. As the force’s oldest rookie, Nolan faces skepticism from superiors who view his pursuit as a midlife crisis.
