Update: 21st Oct Here is an update from Jennifer Espositio in which she disputes CBS official statement
“CBS PUT me on unpaid leave and has blocked me from working anywhere else after my doctor said you needed a reduced schedule due to Celiac,” she wrote. “CBS didn’t listen to my doc and I collapsed on set. Which everyone saw! After a week off my doc said I could return to work but CBS implied that I was NOT truly ill and this was a scheme to get a raise! It’s been almost two months without bringing me back to work + keeping Me from working anywhere else!… Absolutely shameful behavior.”
EXCLUSIVE: Jackie Curatola is leaving the force, at least for now. Blue Bloods co-star Jennifer Esposito, who plays Detective Danny Reagan’s (Donny Wahlberg) partner, is departing the CBS drama series for the foreseeable future. The actress approached producing studio CBS TV Studios earlier this season. “Jennifer has informed us that she is only available to work on a very limited part-time schedule,” the studio said in a statement. “As a result, she’s unable to perform the demands of her role and we regretfully had to put her character on a leave of absence.” The studio would not comment on Esposito’s reasons to ask for the significant workload reduction, but the actress has been public about her struggles with Celiac Disease. She has become a Celiac advocate, educating people about disease and helping those like her who have it.
Source: Deadline
Blue Bloods - Jennifer Esposito Leaving the Series - CBS "Shameful Behaviour"
21 Oct 2012
Blue Bloods
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i'm sorry to hear this - i love the character of jackie and also like jennifer esposito ... she will be missed ... wishing her all the best and hope that she's able to return to the series in the future ...
ReplyDeletethis is unfortunate. He's had three partners since the series started and she's been the best one. I kind of have a shipping thing going on with her and Danny's character but Danny and Linda's marriage is cool too.
ReplyDeleteI will miss her! I hope she feels better! I wonder who will replace her? I hope they do not have Danny rotate with a different partner every week.
ReplyDeleteceliac disease which part of the body affected....???
ReplyDeleteIt means you are allergic to wheat (basically). Some (like me) have mild reactions while others get very sick by just inhaling a few corns of flour.
ReplyDeleteif you eat corn-flakes someone could die....ouch,ouch
ReplyDeletewow,i didn't realize she suffered from that,i wish her well.
ReplyDeleteAm sorry to hear that to, maybe if they would team him up with his brother that would be good.
ReplyDeletewhat kind of network dont believe a medical opinion about a serious illness and put on risk a human been thinking about..MONEY RAISE...OMG..they are Neanderthal people or what
ReplyDeleteShe's allergic to wheat gluten...it's a diet thing.
ReplyDeleteI don't even watch this show, but this is another proof that CBS are complete idiots, each and every one who works there...
ReplyDeleteis a diet but the network acting that way like she is fake in ..PURE ANIMAL THEY ARE...no mater she is on diet for illness or pregnant she deserves respect. From: Disqus Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2012 9:54 AM
ReplyDeleteTo: nellydelcarmen77@hotmail.com
Subject: [spoilertvhome] Re: Blue Bloods - Jennifer Esposito Leaving the Series... For Now (Spoilers)
lsbloom wrote, in response to nellymendezcolon:
She's allergic to wheat gluten...it's a diet thing.
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It is not a diet thing i have two grandchildren that have it and if exposed to wheat are horribly sick at least one was in the hospital for over a week Throwing and damage done to stomach and digestive system is horrific. Both have chrons disease as adults…. Do some research and it is no joke ….. foods like bread cookies cost double things made with wheat
DeleteI don't watch the show but LOVED Jennifer Esposito on "Samantha Who" so I hope eveything works out fine for her.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like pretty shitty behaviour from the network
ReplyDeleteI was just saying, she isn't battling a debilitating illness, if she doesn't eat wheat gluten she is fine. Since she's a big advocate for those with celiac disease, she has been diagnosed and she should be able to control it like anyone else. It's a pretty silly thing to blame not going to work for large periods of time on.
ReplyDeleteIt's a diet thing but it can became serious. I had a student once that spend a week in a hospital because of this disease, he was diagnosed and controlled but even like this sometimes there are situations you can't avoid.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, you know nothing about the exact extent of her disease. You have no idea about possible complications she might have in connection with the celiac disease, so for you to dismiss her problems as if they are nonexistent and insinuate she is not able to manage her own diat is pretty harsh and ignorant. Obviously there are some real problems there since she colapsed on the set.
ReplyDeletePlus she is not blaming the disease for not working for "large periods of time". She was off for one week which is definitely not a "large period of time" and wanted to go to work after that, even if on a lighter schedule as per doctor's orders. It was the network's decision to not let her work again. They now say that it is because her character can't work with a lighter schedule for the actress (see the above quoted press release).
If they are really keeping her from working anywhere else than I agree that it is an absolutely shameful behavior from them.
You are right. I don't know the extent of her disease. But Twitter rants aren't usually the place for legitimate complaints. If she had a leg to stand on, she'd be utilizing the legal system not social media. All we know is that she wasn't at work for at least a week and up to months on end and she requested a continued reduced working schedule. I understand that complications from celiac disease can be severe, but most of those complications arise before an accurate diagnosis is made. Your body will recover, as long as you monitor your diet. She is an adult, and an engaged advocate, and, as such, should be quite capable of monitoring her diet appropriately and if she isn't and requires flexibility in her work schedule and reduced hours, then she needs to move to a job that allows that. What is CBS and all of the other actors, producers, writers, technicians involved with the show supposed to do, wait for her? I'm sorry that she is having health problems, but I am asking for some perspective on the position she has put her coworkers and her employer in.
ReplyDeleteRat. No Jackie = no more watching Blue Bloods for me. Danny & Jackie were the show to me so bye.
ReplyDeleteActually she'd be fine to eat corn flakes. They are made from corn not wheat.
ReplyDeleteWow don't even get me started on CBS those of you who watch Criminal Minds will understand. It's such a shame to see her go I hope she'll be back in the future :)
ReplyDeleteJackie's the only partner I ever liked with Danny. They have great chemistry. I think she's the perfect partner for him. I hated all those rotating partners they tried with Danny. They had terrible chemistry with him, and were boring. Jackie was actually an interesting character too! This sucks royally if CBS doesn't get Jackie back.
ReplyDeleteActually, Celiac Disease can be debilitating to those who have it. There is a range in severity and symptoms, with mild to severe. It's not like you're choosing to be vegetarian or some other diet change. Some of these patients need surgeries to remove whole segments of bowel. Please don't brush off other people's illnesses, just because you don't understand it.
ReplyDeleteI'm well aware of the disease, and I'm well aware of her "story." It is a dietary issue, the same with any other food allergy. If you don't eat wheat gluten, your body will heal and you will be fine. She's was diagnosed awhile ago. There are much more severe diseases in the world and people with actual problems. It isn't cancer.
ReplyDeletewhat an idiot, hey, u jennifer idiot, it's you who should listen to your doctor, your health is at stake & not the network, so you should have followed your doctors instruction, & if it means no work no pay, so be it, you want specially treatment??? what makes you deserve more than the rest of the cast & crew
ReplyDeleteoh, your collapse on the set was bad acting w/c was why the network didn't believe you, I'M GOING TO STOP WATCHING THE SHOW IF THEY BRING YOU BACK
GOOD RIDDANCE!!!