Us MagazineWhen Us Weekly asked James Pickens Jr. (a.k.a. Grey's Dr. Richard Webber) on February 7 if Heigl is leaving the medical drama, he said, "Yes, she is." And he continued, "Wherever Katherine goes, I wish her nothing but the best."
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Following Heigl, 30, out the door?
Her outspoken BFF, Knight, 35. "He's going too," Pickens told Us at the NAACP Awards luncheon in Beverly Hills. "He just wanted to pursue other career paths."
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"He complains to Katherine all the time," a set source has said of Knight (with Heigl). "The energy on set will be much better when he's gone."
Sources close to the actors concur.
"Katherine is ready to move on to the next chapter," says a set source. And Knight is "not shy about telling people" he wants out of his contract, another insider told Us in December.
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But now it seems they're finally getting their wishes.
A source tells Us Knight has had numerous talks with executive producer Shonda Rhimes, and that the "writers are scrambling to find a believable exit for George, one that would leave the door open for him to come back someday."
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Both Heigl's and Knight's reps had no comment, and ABC and ABC Studios could not confirm the departures.
