We regret to inform you, Bridgerton fans, but Regé-Jean Page will not be returning for the show's second season. Sadly, it's time to part ways with Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. (We know, we're taking this just as horribly as you.)
Variety and Hollywood Reporter—who both scooped up the story from Lady Whistledown—have broken hearts around the world by sharing this super upsetting announcement.
"We'll miss Simon's presence on screen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family," part of the announcement read. We wish this was a joke.
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Needless to say, fans were less than pleased with this unexpected news. On social media, one Instagram user wrote "WHY?" while another said, "Your Grace, this is not what I had in mind."
This is certainly not what we had in mind, either. Considering the breakout historical romance show had roughly 63 million views in its first month alone (which we can certainly attribute to the hunky, hunky RJP), it seems rather odd that one of the swoon-worthy stars would make such an abrupt exit so soon. Our hearts are not OK.
In fact, we were just celebrating RJP's big win at the NAACP Image Awards, where he took home the award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. (A well-deserved honor for the Duke, if you ask us.)
"It is the highest honor to represent us in the fullness of our beauty, of our glamour, of our splendor, of our royalty, of our romance, of our love," he said about his win. "It is the highest honor to represent that and to represent the people I do represent, and I will do my absolute to be worthy of that."
It's going to take some time for us to adjust to this news, but other steamy stories will keep us busy until the hurt passes.
