Why did Natalie exit Chicago Med in Season 7? Reason behind Torrey DeVitto’s departure, explored

Natalie Manning’s exit from Chicago Med in Season 7 stirred up serious chatter. Fans were shocked and curious about this sudden departure: why did Torrey DeVitto leave after such a long run?

She had been in the thick of it for six seasons, and then rumors started pinging around before Season 6 even wrapped. Pretty soon, it was official, and she was out. It lined up with YaYa DaCosta leaving, too. The show created a big exit for Natalie, but viewers wanted the real scoop. Turns out, behind-the-scenes reasons started cropping up soon after, giving everyone a bit more insight.

When Chicago Med dropped its Season 7 in 2021, fans were puzzled to learn that Natalie was gone from the hospital’s roster. Social media buzzed with wild guesses and hot takes. Eventually, between official cast updates and interviews, we got the real news: DeVitto bailed because she wanted to chase fresh roles.

Her character did everything except perform surgery blindfolded at that point. But props to the writers; they wrapped up Natalie’s storyline with some actual heart (and a bit of drama). And she even came back briefly in Season 8 for a quick cameo just to stir our feelings… again.

Why did Natalie Manning exit Chicago Med?

On-screen, the reason for Natalie’s exit was personal and ethical. In Chicago Med Season 6, Natalie secretly stole an experimental drug from Will Halstead’s clinical trial. She hoped to help her mother, who had a critical heart condition, but didn’t qualify for the trial.

As the meds went missing, everyone freaked out, with Will trying to take the sword for her. But Natalie was not having it. To save Will’s career, she finally owns up, confesses everything, and gets fired. The very next season (Season 7) confirmed that Natalie packed her bags, grabbed her kid, and headed to Seattle to be with her family.

Behind the scenes, Torrey DeVitto exited on her own terms, according to ScreenRant. After playing the role of Dr. Natalie Manning for six years and clocking over 100 episodes, she was ready for something new.

She reportedly talked about it in interviews and on social media, saying it was time to let herself and the character grow. DeVitto was looking for new horizons and fresh scripts, not repeating the same old storylines. There weren’t any behind-the-scenes meltdowns or secret beefs; she even gave a shout-out to the rest of the cast and the show’s creators.

Natalie wrapped up her storyline after Season 6. She didn’t even show up for the opening of Season 7, which felt like a void in the show. But then DeVitto came back in for a brief cameo at the end of Season 8.

This special return was prompted because Nick Gehlfuss (aka Will Halstead) was also exiting Chicago Med. So, the writers gave fans what they had been begging for: a proper sendoff. We finally got to see Natalie and Will back together, riding off into the sunset (well, leaving Chicago, at least). It was sweet, even if it took them forever to get there.

Chicago Med: A brief overview

Chicago Med debuted on NBC in 2015, riding the endless wave of hospital drama hype with the high-pressure environment of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center’s Emergency Department. If you have ever wondered what happens when doctors and the rest of the hospital staff hit ethical dilemmas with a ton of personal baggage, this show has your back.

The show is also known for its crossover episodes with Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. With this One Chicago trio, we get a nonstop mix of high-stakes cases and larger-than-life personalities bumping into each other while trying to save lives. It is as dramatic as it can be, and the cast is always changing. So, you never really know who is going to make it through next week.

Meanwhile, Dr. Natalie Manning hit the ground running when she first showed up in Chicago Med Season 1. In no time, she took the spot as a fan favorite. Her drama, especially when you put in Will Halstead or Crockett Marcel, was always hook-worthy. We had love triangles, family feuds blowing up, and more. The writers knew what they were doing, making her stories feel believable. So, when she left, it sent shockwaves across the fandom.

Notably, Chicago Med is a champion at rearranging its cast. It feels like they are always shuffling people in and out, but it still delivers emotional gut punches. Natalie’s exit is a textbook example of how to write off a character without ruining the vibe.

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Also Read: Every season of Chicago Med ranked from weakest to strongest

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