Leah Lewis has broken her silence following David Del Rio’s firing from their CBS legal drama Matlock after an alleged sexual assault incident involving her.
Lewis, who plays Sarah Franklin in the series, reportedly filed a sexual assault complaint against Del Rio over an alleged incident that occurred on September 26.
As an investigation followed, it ultimately led to the actor’s dismissal from the show.
What Did Leah Lewis Say After David Del Rio’s Firing?
In a post on Instagram, Lewis assured her more than 300,000 followers that she’s doing fine amid the sexual assault allegations.
“Mom is here, we’re moving forward in love and strength. I’m in good hands,” she wrote in her Instagram Stories, accompanied by a photo with her mother, Lorraine Lewis. “Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care.”
Lewis added that she’s now moving on with the help of her family.
“Truly, we’re moving forward in strength. Key word, strength,” she continued. “Please, let that be the takeaway.”
The post came just hours before Del Rio was reportedly fired from the show.
According to Deadline, Lewis reported the incident that allegedly happened on Del Rio’s trailer on October 2.
The series producers were then quick to action, and the network launched an investigation into the matter.
On that same day, the 38-year-old director was “fired and escorted off the lot,” where Matlock is filmed, following an internal investigation. The show’s executive producer Eric Christian Olsen was said to be one of the people who led him away.
While CBS Studios has yet to comment on the issue, The New York Post noted that it confirmed Del Rio’s departure from the series.
Del Rio is also yet to publicly comment on the allegations.
What Will Happen to David Del Rio’s Role Matlock?
Del Rio played the role of first-year associate Billy Martinez at Jacobson Monroe, the law firm that hired lead character Madeline “Matty” Matlock (Kathy Bates) in Matlock.
The show’s production reportedly continued even after Del Rio was escorted off the set. However, it will go on a pre-planned hiatus next week after wrapping the first half of Season 2 this week.
Production is expected to resume after Thanksgiving, and the creative team will reportedly rework the scripts to write Del Rio’s character out of the show.
By the looks of it, Del Rio’s wife, Katherine Del Rio, isn’t happy with how things have turned out for her husband. In fact, she expressed strong disapproval of Lewis following his firing.
On her Instagram Stories, she shared a close-up photo of the 28-year-old actress with the caption, “This is the most disturbing human being I have ever met.”
Lewis previously followed Katherine’s account, but it now appears she no longer does. Her comments have also disappeared, suggesting she may have been blocked by Katherine.
As Lewis has yet to address the matter, it seems she’s ready to leave everything behind and move forward.
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