Cast members frame Bush’s exit as a natural evolution, emphasizing moving forward and new directions while avoiding direct commentary on the alleged toxic environment she describes in her memoir.
The real tea? Bush’s 2026 memoir details fist connecting with flesh and silenced protests, while Jason Beghe’s 2017 apology for anger issues and NBC’s investigation into his behavior suggest the rare comments were carefully curated to avoid scandal.
1. Sophia Bush’s 2026 memoir And I Will Tell You Mine describes Fist connecting with flesh and Averted eyes. 2. Jason Beghe’s 2017 statement admitted to anger issues and confirmed NBC investigation into volatile behavior. 3. Marina Squerciati stated in 2018 that Burgess didn’t even have the courtesy to say goodbye.
The cast’s polite 2017 reactions now read as damage control against Bush’s explosive 2026 memoir revelations of physical and emotional abuse.
Sophia Bush’s former costars on Chicago P.D. are finally speaking up, but their comments from 2017 now look suspiciously like PR damage control in light of her explosive 2026 memoir, And I Will Tell You Mine. The show, which premiered in 2014 as a spinoff of Chicago Fire, saw Bush play Erin for four seasons before her surprising exit. While the cast publicly called the departure sad and emphasized moving forward, Bush’s recent revelations of a toxic environment involving alleged physical abuse paint a far darker picture of the set culture. In her memoir, Bush didn’t pull punches, describing "An inappropriate comment. A raised voice. A hair pull. A held breath. A clenched jaw. A clenched fist. Fist connecting with flesh. And then, worse. Much worse." She detailed an atmosphere of "silenced protests" and "whispers when something went wrong," noting that her set was "the one talked about on all the others." This aligns with the 2017 investigation by NBC into costar Jason Beghe’s volatile behavior and offensive comments. Beghe’s own statement at the time admitted, "I have struggled with anger issues for some time," and confirmed he had "personally apologized to anyone who I have upset," a clear acknowledgment of the turmoil Bush now describes in vivid detail. Jesse Lee Soffer, who dated Bush on-screen and off, told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017 that her departure was hard and likened it to doing a new show, focusing on the practical challenges of rewriting storylines. Jon Seda echoed this sentiment in TVLine, praising Bush as a great talent but quickly pivoting to taking it for what it is and focusing on the remaining team. LaRoyce Hawkins framed the changes as a necessary new head coach moment, suggesting the show needed to better represent the culture, a subtle nod to the behind-the-scenes friction that was clearly palpable. Perhaps the most telling comment came from Marina Squerciati, who returned for season five in 2018. She admitted it was nerve-racking and noted a meeting that acknowledged the change in the show and a new direction. Her emotional closing remark about her character Burgess not having the courtesy to say goodbye underscores the abrupt and potentially contentious nature of Bush’s exit, contrasting sharply with the cast’s earlier attempts to project unity and professionalism.
