Warning: Contains spoilers for Suits episode 610, "P.S.L."
In Wednesday's shocking summer finale, Suits said farewell to Jessica Pearson, the sharp-tongued -- and even sharper-dressed -- managing partner at Pearson Specter Litt played by Gina Torres.
A fan favorite over the last six years for her badass takedowns, unflappable confidence, admirable loyalty, and endearing vulnerability, Jessica has been a huge part of Suits' success.
And now she's gone.
Torres, whose character left her New York-based firm to pursue a new life in with her love interest Jeff Malone (D.B. Woodside) in Chicago, shared her feelings about leaving the show.
“Playing Jessica Pearson has been one of the greatest rides of my career," Torres said in a statement. "It isn't often that an actress gets the opportunity to embody so rich a character. Thanks to Aaron Korsh's wonderful writing and his singular vision of Jessica, I believe that together we created a woman who has everything. Real power, wealth, intelligence, intuitive wisdom, humor, unapologetic female sexuality and, arguably, the best wardrobe in all of television.
"Because of all these qualities, I have not only been able to entertain Suits fans but, with much pride and awe, I can say I have also inspired quite a few future Jessicas as well as shined a light on real-life Jessica Pearsons who are out in the world at this very moment, owning their place at the head of the table -- not unlike our real Queen at USA/Universal Cable Productions, Bonnie Hammer, a force of nature who has been one of Jessica's biggest fans and supporters, as well as a true blessing in my own life as an example of what grace in power looks like. And that is a glorious thing."
While Suits is set in New York City, the actual production takes place in Toronto for months at a time.
"And so leaving the show was indeed a difficult decision to make," Torres stated. "However at this time, it is necessary to get back to my life and all the very important things that being on location in Toronto made very difficult to manage."
The distance means Jessica won't have regular appearances on Suits anymore, but who's to say she won't show up from time to time?
"I can't thank USA enough for being so understanding and supporting me in my choice and so I am incredibly grateful," continued Torres, "Having said that, I don't believe for one second it's the last we'll see of Jessica Pearson. Not. For. One. Second. And don't you either.”
NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Chairman Bonnie Hammer says Torres can come back to Suits anytime.
"Gina took a fantastic character and ran with it, deepened it, and dressed it up to the nines," Hammer stated on behalf of USA Network. "Not only will I miss her personally, I’ll miss her contribution to the show’s great chemistry, which is why the door will always be WAY open for her return.”
Creator and showrunner Aaron Korsh echoed the sentiment that Torres will always be a member of the Suits family.
“Gina Torres brought Jessica Pearson to life for six wonderful seasons with intelligence, strength, tenacity and grace," Korsh said in an official statement about Torres' departure from the show. "There is no color of the rainbow she cannot portray, no scene she cannot dominate. She is an amazing actress, a wonderful human being, and an utter pleasure to work with.
"The decision for Gina to exit Suits was a personal choice based on the geography of where shooting takes place versus the life she needed to focus on closer to home. We worked together to come up with a plan to gracefully allow her to move on from the show and be happy. But no matter where she goes, as far as I'm concerned, Gina is part of the Suits family, and she can come back whenever she wants. As I said to her recently, she is a rare combination of talent and class and I would go to war with her any day of the week and twice on Sunday."
