The Reason Behind Jim Parsons’ Controversial Decision To Silently Leave TBBT

It's no secret that The Big Bang Theory ended after 12 seasons only because of Jim Parson's departure from the series.

This decision came as a surprise not only to the viewers, but also to the cast and crew, who gathered for the first table read of season 12, not knowing that it would be a final season.

What isn't surprising is that Parsons' decision was considered controversial. While some fans didn't really understand how cutting ties with The Big Bang Theory but staying with Young Sheldon would allow him to explore more opportunities outside of the universe, his castmates were offended that he didn't share the news with them first.

The cast opened up about the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding their decision on The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.

“I was shocked. We were just blindsided that day. And not necessarily shocked by Jim's decision, but that he hadn't had that conversation with his castmates first to prepare us. So yes, it could have been handled better. We're a family; have a conversation,” Johnny Galecki, who portrayed Sheldon’s best friend and roommate Leonard, said.

Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny on the show, also remembers how emotional the day was when they found out the show was ending.

Of course, the loss of a project they had been working on for 12 years must have been hard to take, but Parson's ambition was not to blame. As the actor later admitted, he had his own reasons for keeping quiet.

As it turns out, he thought Steve Moralo would have continued with the show even if he was out of the picture. Instead of ruining everyone's day, as it ended up, Jim Parsons' plan was to announce his departure when all of his castmates were offered to sign their season 13 contracts.

Unfortunately, the actor's messy exit announcement caused some drama on set, but after some time passed, everyone decided to agree that it was the right decision and the right time to end the show.

If you want to go down the memory lane and re-watch The Big bang Theory from the very beginning, you can stream all the seasons on Netflix or MAX.

Source: The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series