Sonja Flemming/CBS
The Matlock season premiere airs this Sunday, and the legal show is in the news today. And not for reasons that want to be.
According to Deadline, David Del Rio was fired for allegedly sexually assaulting his co-star.
The alleged assault is said to have happened on September 26th, and it was reported on October 2nd. After an internal investigation by the producers and the studio, he was fired and walked off the lot that same day.
Last year’s #1 new show, which is halfway through filming this season, is set to go on a preplanned production hiatus next week and return after Thanksgiving.
Hopefully, that will give the writers enough time to figure out the rest of the season without his character, who was the least important one of the series.
Del Rio played Billy Martinez, a junior associate, alongside Matty (Kathy Bates) and Sarah Franklin (Leah Lewis).
UPDATE: I did not want to name Leah Lewis because I believe she needs her privacy during this time. And I would not name her unless she went public, which she did. To see what she said, then
I hope that people respect her privacy during this difficult time, and that she continues to find her strength.
