Julianna Margulies Reportedly Not Returning to “The Morning Show” as Reese Witherspoon’s Love Interest

Apple TV+’s flagship series brought in the three-time Emmy winner in the second season to play an LGBTQ+ character

Season 4 of The Morning Show may be down one TV star!

Julianna Margulies reportedly won’t be returning to The Morning Show as Laura Peterson, the on-again-off-again love interest to Reese Witherspoon’s character since the second season, according to Variety.

PEOPLE reached out to Margulies’ reps for comment.

Considered Apple TV+’s flagship series, The Morning Show brought in Margulies, 58, to play an LGBTQ+ character who falls in love with Witherspoon’s character, Bradley Jackson.

Related: The Morning Show Season 4: All About the Drama Starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon

The three-time Emmy winner has previously addressed concerns about cisgender, heterosexual actors taking on LGBTQ+ roles.

“We’re all making assumptions as to who I am and what my past is, and what all of our pasts are,” Margulies told CBS Mornings Monday in 2021.

“I understand 100 percent that I can’t play a different race, but I am an actress, and I am supposed to embody another character,” she added. “Whatever their sexuality is doesn’t matter to me, the same way watching a gay person play a straight person.”

More recently, in 2023, Margulies faced backlash for criticizing the Black and LGBTQ+ communities over their perceived lack of support for Israel amid its ongoing war against Hamas.

According to Variety’s June 10 report, Margulies’ decision to not come back to The Morning Show “was made before the controversy ” and that “she turned down” an offer to appear in just one episode of season 4.

Responding to the backlash, Margulies previously told PEOPLE she’s “horrified by the fact that statements I made on a recent podcast offended the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities [that] I truly love and respect.”

“I want to be 100% clear: Racism, homophobia, sexism, or any prejudice against anyone’s personal beliefs or identity are abhorrent to me, full stop,” her statement continued. “Throughout my career I have worked tirelessly to combat hate of all kind, end antisemitism, speak out against terrorist groups like Hamas, and forge a united front against discrimination.”

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”I did not intend for my words to sow further division, for which I am sincerely apologetic,” Margulies concluded.

Production on the fourth season of The Morning Show is scheduled to begin in July, with stars and executive producers Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston returning. Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Greta Lee, Karen Pittman, Nestor Carbonell are also likely to return to round out the cast.

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