Why did Kristen exit FBI after Season 2? Possible reason behind Ebonée Noel’s exit, explored

When FBI premiered on CBS in 2018, Kristen Chazal appeared as one of the main characters on the show. Played by Ebonée Noel, the Special Agent and Intelligence Analyst helped the team on various cases.

But her character was written off after just two seasons. In the third season’s premiere, it was revealed that Kristen had left the team and moved away to Dallas. The plot certainly did not go down well with the fans.

To this day, audiences are wondering why Kristen abruptly left FBI after Season 2. While neither the creators nor Ebonée Noel has ever spoken about the reason behind her exit, it seems like it was the actress’ decision to depart the project.

Possible reasons behind Kristen’s exit from FBI

Kristen had so much potential. The Special Agent had made a place in everyone’s heart with her problem-solving abilities and her intelligence. But the potential remained untapped as Kristen did not have a long run on the show. She was last seen in the final episode of Season 2 in March 2020. The season was cut short due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the show returned with Season 3 in November 2020, her absence was explained by just one dialogue: She had moved to Dallas to join the FBI Field Office. The Season 2 finale certainly did not set up her exit, nor were there any signs of her desire to join the Field Office earlier.

This proves that the series creators did not actually want to write off Kristen, and Ebonée Noel might have made the decision herself. There are multiple possible reasons behind the actress's decision.

It is possible that Ebonée wanted to explore other opportunities in her career. Actors sometimes do not want to be stereotyped into a particular character, especially on procedurals like FBI, which go on for years.

Since her exit from the series, Ebonée has continued to be a part of the entertainment industry. She has been seen in a guest role in Prime Video’s Harlem and as a series regular in OWN’s The Kings of Napa.

Also, the year she left the project, 2020, was a pretty unpredictable time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filming of shows and movies was shut for months, and even when production resumed, the cast and crew had to take precautions to stop the spread of the virus.

The delay in filming and the risks associated with it might also have convinced Ebonée to step away from the project. The Black Lives Matter movement also began in 2020. At the time, multiple black actors decided to leave projects based on law enforcement agencies. Ebonée might have chosen to leave FBI in solidarity with the movement.

Whatever the reason might have been, fans have dearly missed Kristen in the series. While the show has continued for years and is currently in its eighth season, the absence of Kristen still haunts a section of the audience.

And while Ebonée never officially revealed why she left the show, she did pay tribute to her character with an Instagram post in November 2020. She wrote:

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“'There is nothing like you. There was nothing like you, and there shall be nothing like you.' - a message from the Universe for my girl Kris delivered via last night's Yogi Tea. Here's to Boss Women like Kristen Chazal. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them and to quote the icon @itsgabrielleu may we ‘Lift her in the light of goodness and hold her there.’”

For more interesting features on FBI, stay tuned to Soap Central.

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