‘Bridgerton’ scandal? Shonda Rhimes reveals ‘everyone lost their minds’ upon Regé-Jean Page exit

There’s nary hard feelings for “Bridgerton” shaper Shonda Rhimes and the Netflix play drama’s erstwhile prima Regé-Jean Page.

When connection got retired that Page would not beryllium reprising his role arsenic the dashing Duke of Hastings successful the show’s 2nd season, fans weren’t happy. However, Rhimes, 51, admitted she’s perfectly good with the British actor’s decision.

“I don’t deliberation I expected everybody to person specified a absorption to it,” the showrunner said successful a screen illustration for Variety. “My presumption of what radical knew of romance novels was … I overestimated a large deal.”

She continued, “People’s attachment to couples is existent — I mean, I cognize that amended than anybody. And I deliberation that means success. But I bash recognize their despair.”

Page’s quality was portion of the series’ main Season 1 communicative enactment wherever helium romanced and joined Phoebe Dynevor’s Daphne Bridgerton. His casting turned him into an overnight sensation and the amusement became 1 of the most-watched Netflix shows to ever debut.

The “Grey’s Anatomy” creator was past asked if determination was a accidental that the “Roots” prima would instrumentality to the amusement successful the future. Rhimes revealed she doesn’t deliberation so.

Phoebe Dynevor and Page starred arsenic lovers Duke of Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton respectively.AP

“And here’s why,” she explained. “He’s an tremendous prima now. As I similar to say, the thought that we would constitute Regé to basal astir successful the inheritance doesn’t marque immoderate consciousness astatine each to me. ‘What would helium do?’ is what I similar to say.”

She added that “everybody mislaid their minds” aft Page’s exit and the amusement adjacent invited him to travel back. But Page opted not to return. “Rightfully, helium said, ‘I signed up to bash this 1 beauteous story, this closed-ended storyline. I’m good!'” she said. “And I don’t blasted him for that. I deliberation that helium was truly astute to permission the perfection arsenic the perfection.”

Season 2 is presently successful accumulation and the amusement was besides renewed for Seasons 3 and 4. The upcoming play will travel Lord Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey) and his romanticist narration with Kate Sharma, portrayed by “Sex Education” histrion Simone Ashley.

A root divulged to Page Six successful April that Page’s departure was owed to “creative differences” with Rhimes and her team.

The insider added, “He wasn’t blessed with what was planned for his quality for Season 2, which would person kept him a subordinate but not the focal constituent of the show. Regé has been inundated with offers for different absorbing and challenging starring roles.”

Page volition adjacent beryllium seen successful the Russo brothers’ upcoming enactment thriller “The Gray Man” and the Paramount movie “The Saint.”