'Grey's Anatomy' Fans Outraged Over Justin Chambers’ Dr. Alex Karev’s Exit From Show in Farewell Episode

Allison Schonter

03/06/2020 10:38 am EST

Fans are weighing in with their upset after Grey's Anatomy's farewell episode to Justin Chambers' onscreen counterpart Dr. Alex Karev. Chambers, who had been among the original group of interns that appeared in the beloved ABC medical drama's freshmen season, had announced in January that he would be leaving the show, and Thursday night's brand new episode finally wrapped up his storyline in a way that was not satisfying for many long-time viewers.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Grey's Anatomy Season 16, Episode 16, "Leave a Light On."

After revealing throughout the second half of the season that Alex had left to visit his mother in Idaho, and had later altogether stopped communicating with anyone back home, it was revealed in Thursday night's episode via four different letters that he had actually moved to Kansas to be with his ex-wife, Izzie Stevens, and their 5-year-old twins.

"You always said Christina was your person, then I was your person, but you've always been your own damn person," his letter to Meredith read in part. "You are my best friend and I will miss the hell out of you but I'm finally exactly where I should be. I never had that before."

Keep scrolling to see how some fans are reacting to Dr. Alex Karev's ending.

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"I'd honestly rather have Alex Karev die THAN have [Grey's Anatomy] ruin 16 seasons of character development to have him ghost everyone, and leave his wife for IZZY F–ING STEVENS," wrote one viewer.

"alex karev did NOT go through 16 seasons of the BEST character development in tv history to end his story with him ghosting his wife and best friend," tweeted another. "every single one of the og 5 deserved a better ending. what. the. F–."

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"So you're telling me Alex is going to leave Jo unexpectedly and sign divorce papers and mail them to her so that he can go be with Izzy who left him unexpectedly and signed divorce papers and mailed them to him???" questioned on person. "The F–???"

"I think that not giving Alex a final episode was highly disrespectful to the fans, the actor, and the character," commented somebody else. "We're really supposed to believe that ALEX would ghost his wife and best friend? Hell no. As an original he deserved a better ending."

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"Alex karev really had one of the best character developments on television, just for him to leave to his wife and best friend without notice to get back with his ex wife, izzie, who literally did the exact same thing to him," reacted another fan. "Smells like bulls– to me."

"Izzie having Alex's kids and not telling him all these years and him going back to her now is reverse character development at its worst," another person slammed the episode.

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"I am gonna pretend Alex Karev is dead and DID NOT abandon his entire family for Izzie Stevens," wrote another fan of the series.

"Ok Shonda you're fired!" slammed one. "How you going to make a character like Alex Karev grow into one of the best men on this damn show and end his storyline with this BULLS–?!!!"

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"I have decided that Alex Karev died on the way to see his mum and his body was never claimed. End," wrote somebody else.

"I know Justin Chambers quit. Saying goodbye sucks. BUT... To write LETTERS?," tweeted another viewer. "Jo getting a dear John letter? Who does that? Maybe season 1 or 2 Alex... Nah. Not even HIM. Especially not GROWN Alex Karev."

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"I can't believe they managed to ruin 15 years and 16 seasons worth of character development in one episode," added one. "Alex sweetie you didn't deserve this."

"Just ignoring the end that they gave to Alex Karev," commented another. "It's so unfair. Years and years of developing for nothing. He would never leave Jo or Meredith like this. That's not the Karev that I used to know."

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"When you pray they won't kill off Alex Karev and they don't but the way they do write him off makes you wish they had just killed him," wrote one fan.

"Remember when we all used to joke about how Alex would leave Jo for Izzie and find out she had his kids? Well, jokes on us now," tweeted another.

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