Yvette Nicole Brown plans to exit Community after five seasons.
On the series, Brown plays Shirley Bennett, a vital character in the community group. She asked Community‘s executive producers Dan Harmon and Chris McKenna to release her from her contract for personal reasons. They approved her request.
Brown decided to leave the series to take care of her sick father. “My dad needs daily care and he needs me. The idea of being away 16 hours a day for five months, I couldn’t do it. It was a difficult decision for me to make, but I had to choose my dad,” Brown said.
In a joint statement, McKenna and Harmon shared their sadness about Brown’s departure from the series. “Yvette was an integral part of Community and is irreplaceable. We are sad to see her go and wish her the very best.”
Over the summer Community was canceled by NBC, but revived when Yahoo! Screen picked it up for season 6. Jonathan Banks will also be exiting Community this year because of his committment to the Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul. To adjust to these departures, Community is currently casting two new characters.
#TBT The Community gang promoting the show in Toronto S2! @alisonbrie @DonaldGlover @dannypudi pic.twitter.com/JMePWTzm6o
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) June 13, 2014
Brown will no longer be part of Community but she still has two current television gigs. She has a recurring role on the USA Network comedy Benched. Brown also has a recurring role on the CBS’ reboot of The Odd Couple. The actress shared why working on a series like The Odd Couple presents less of a challenge than working on one like Community. “That show is a multi-camera sitcom, which comes with a more flexible schedule than a single-camera half-hour like Community. A multi-camera sitcom is a better fit for the life I have now. I can’t say enough how much I respect Sony and Dan for how they handled this profound change in my life,” revealed Brown.
Guys! There’s an ALL NEW #Community airing TONIGHT with a whole lotta #ThisGuy! @NathanFillion!!! 8pm/7c on NBC! 🙂 pic.twitter.com/TajZ64XImR — yvette nicole brown (@YNB) January 30, 2014
Brown isn’t sure how they’ll write her character off of the show, but she adds that, “I am totally open to whatever Dan decides. I’m glad it won’t be hard for them to explain where she is. She has three kids, a degree and a business. There are a lot of ways to explain her [departure].”
On Twitter, Brown sent tweets thanking her fans for all their support.
To say I am floored by the outpouring of love for me & my dad would be the world’s biggest understatement. #ThankYou is insufficient…
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) October 1, 2014
But please know, you all have touched my heart more than words can say and have made me proud to be a #HumanBeing! I adore you guys! xoxo
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) October 1, 2014
A HUGE thank you to @cpmckenna #TheRussoBrothers @TShapeero & all the other awesome #Community production & crew folks! #GreendaleForever xo
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) October 1, 2014