why did susie leave rizzoli and isles

On Rizzoli & Isles, Susie Chang didn’t leave voluntarily as a character; she was killed off in season 6 as part of a darker, dramatic storyline, and the actress Tina Huang has said the decision to remove her from the show was made by the producers/writers, not by her.

What happened to Susie on the show?

In season 6, episode 5 (“Misconduct Game”), Susie suddenly disappears, which immediately worries Jane and Maura. As they investigate, they:

• Find a hidden room in Susie’s apartment with cash and stolen evidence, making it look like she’s betraying the team.

• Struggle to believe she could be corrupt, given how loyal and cheerful she’d always been.

• Eventually discover that Susie has actually been framed by a vengeful politician who used her to cover up a bigger crime.

The storyline ends with the reveal that Susie has been murdered off‑screen, turning the case into one of the show’s more emotional gut-punches for both the characters and the audience.

Fans on forums and Reddit often describe this episode as “super sad and disappointing,” feeling that such a beloved side character deserved a happier exit.

So why did Susie “leave” Rizzoli & Isles?

From a story perspective:

• The writers wanted a shocking, high-stakes plot that hit the core team emotionally, so they chose to kill off Susie and build a conspiracy arc around her death.

• Making it look like she might be dirty at first, then revealing she was a victim, gave the episode extra tension and heartbreak.

From a behind‑the‑scenes perspective:

• Multiple reports and write‑ups say the exit was a creative decision by the show’s producers and writers, not something the actress pushed for.

• Tina Huang has been quoted in interviews as saying she was informed that her role was being written out via her character’s death and that it wasn’t her choice to leave.

• Articles summarizing those interviews emphasize that the show wanted to “spice up” the plot with a dramatic death, and Susie’s character was chosen.

So the short version: Susie left because the showrunners decided to write a dramatic, tragic death, not because Tina Huang walked away from the series.

Fan reaction and ongoing discussion

Since the show ended, the question “why did Susie leave Rizzoli and Isles ” still comes up a lot in forum and article comment sections.

Common fan viewpoints include:

• Heartbroken but understanding – Many viewers say the episode was powerful and memorable, even if it hurt to lose her.

• Prefer a happier exit – Others wish Susie had been written out via a promotion, a new job, or something uplifting, especially because the show had already dealt with real-life tragedy after actor Lee Thompson Young’s death.

• Still miss the character – Years later, she’s still described as a “delightful” and “beloved” presence who lightened darker episodes.

A typical fan sentiment goes something like: they understand the narrative shock value, but they’d have rather seen Susie drive off into the sunset instead of being another tragic casualty.

“Latest news” and what Tina Huang did next

While there isn’t big breaking “latest news” specifically about Susie’s storyline now, the character’s death continues to be revisited in newer articles and listicles looking back at Rizzoli & Isles.

Since leaving the show, Tina Huang has:

• Continued acting in TV and film projects (various reports highlight ongoing work but usually focus more on explaining her Rizzoli & Isles exit than on a full career list).

• Spoken positively about what she learned on the series, even though she was sad and surprised by the decision to end Susie’s arc through death.

So if you’re searching “why did Susie leave Rizzoli and Isles ” today, the key takeaway is: it was a writer-driven plot twist designed for drama, one that many fans still debate and feel strongly about.

TL;DR: Susie Chang was killed off in season 6 as part of a dramatic murder/conspiracy storyline, and Tina Huang has indicated it was the show’s creative decision, not her own choice to leave.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.