‘True Blood’s’ Nelsan Ellis Shames Luke Grimes For Leaving Show Over Bisexual Arc


Looks like True Blood’s Nelsan Ellis isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to former co-star Luke Grimes. The actor took the former True Blood co-star up to task when asked about the actor’s mysterious disappearance from the series.

Ellis has played one of the most beloved characters on the HBO series. As Lafayette, the actor is one of the most masculine gay characters on the show. So when he was asked by Vulture what he thought of Luke Grimes’ shady exit he didn’t hold back too much.

According to Grimes he left the show over a filming schedule, which had nothing to do with the storylines that his character James was involved in for the upcoming season. However, that timing was a bit weird when you consider his character went from suddenly romancing Deborah Ann Woll’s Jessica, to being involved in a bisexual storyline with Ellis’ Lafayette.

Although actor Nathan Parsons took on the role this season, it seems like there’s still some hard feelings. HBO had said that Luke’s decision to leave the series had everything to do with “the creative direction of the character.”

Instead of keeping silent, Ellis decided to let Vulture know exactly what he thought of Luke’s move and the impact it has.

“I just think that, you’re an actor. We’re all sitting there going, ‘You quit your job because … really?’ I’m just… I’m over him. You quit your job because you don’t want to play a gay part? As if it’s … You know what? I’m going to stop talking.”

That said, the actor went on to discuss how wrong it was for Luke Grimes to leave the role over the bisexual storyline.

“You make a statement when you do something like that. You make a … big statement, when you go, ‘I don’t want to play this part because it’s gay.’ If you have a child, if you have a son, and he comes out as gay, what are you going to do? If you have a daughter who comes out gay…? You just made a statement, and it has ripple effects.”

Nelsan Ellis who does a spectacular job on the show continues to discuss his point of view as an actor on True Blood.

“I’m supposed to do what my boss tells me to do, as an actor. I can’t approach a character with judgment. I certainly can’t tell my boss, ‘I can act what I want to act, but not what you tell me to act,’ especially on a show where you come in, knowing what it is.”

What do you think about Luke Grimes’ decision to leave the show?

[Image via HBO]

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