Jennifer Esposito, a fan-favorite from Blue Bloods, has finally shed light on her departure from the hit CBS show. Esposito played Detective Jackie Curatola, the trusted partner of Donnie Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan. Her abrupt exit in Season 3 left fans with lingering questions, and speculation ran rampant over the years.

In a recent interview, Esposito confirmed what many fans had suspected: her departure wasn’t entirely voluntary. She revealed that her struggle with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition, led to her needing time off for her health, but she felt the network mishandled the situation. Instead of accommodating her condition, she claimed the network placed her on unpaid leave, which ultimately led to her exit from the show.

Esposito expressed gratitude for the love and support she received from fans during her time on Blue Bloods and has remained positive about her career since leaving the show. Her honesty about her health struggles has also helped raise awareness about celiac disease. While fans still miss Jackie Curatola, Esposito’s candidness offers closure to a story that had been left untold for years.