Why Did Michael Leave ‘9-1-1’? Rockmond Dunbar Exits Over Vaccine Mandate
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for 9-1-1 Season 5 Episode 8 “Defend in Place.”]
The latest 9-1-1 episode was bookended with Michael Grant (Rockmond Dunbar) making decisions about his future, including one that takes him away from Los Angeles. And it turns out that was his farewell.
Dunbar’s exit is due to the COVID protocols for Disney TV Studios’ 20th Television productions, according to Deadline. All actors must be vaccinated, and he tried to be exempted for both medical and religious reasons. Disney reportedly rejected those requests.
“I applied for religious and medical accommodations pursuant to the law and unfortunately was denied by my employer,” Dunbar said in a statement to Deadline. “My sincerely held beliefs and private medical history are very intimate and personal aspects of my life that I do not publicly discuss and have no desire to start now. I’ve been an actor in this business for 30 years, but my greatest roles are as a husband and father to our 4 small children. As a man that walks in faith, I look forward to what the future holds. I have enjoyed the last 5 seasons with this wonderful cast and crew and will cherish the time I’ve been blessed to spend with this series and wish everyone involved nothing but the best.”
According to the report, the door was left open for his character to return in case the situation changes going forward. So how was Michael written out (at least for now)? After a massive hurricane hit Haiti, Michael’s boyfriend, Dr. David Hale (La Monde Byrd), revealed he was going there to help with relief efforts. He was leaving soon, after clearing it with the hospital and taking care of surgeries already on his schedule. He’ll be gone for a month or two, maybe longer. “If you want to be mad at someone, blame my boyfriend,” David explained. After all, Michael introduced him to people “who never hesitate to rush into an emergency. I think some of that rubbed off.”
Mathieu Young/ FOX
And so Michael planned to propose before David’s trip. “I’ve been thinking about being without him for the next few months, and I realized that I don’t want to be without him ever. I want to be with him for the rest of my life, and I don’t want him to leave without knowing that,” he told the family — his kids May (Corinne Massiah) and Harry (Marcanthonee Jon Reis), his ex-wife Athena (Angela Bassett), and her husband Bobby (Peter Krause). He had their support, including with planning the proposal (ring? watch? tie?), but he arrived at the hospital in time to see the explosion that rocked the building.
David refused to leave his patient mid-surgery. He promised his wife, he told Bobby. Well, “I promised your husband,” the firefighter said. “Michael’s not my husband,” David argued, so Bobby essentially proposed to the hopefully future husband of his wife’s ex-husband for him. “Well, he wants to be. He’s standing outside this hospital right now with a ring in his pocket — maybe a watch, I’m not sure — waiting to propose.”
The captain then issued a “defend in place” order to give David the time he needed to finish the operation, and as soon as the doctor reunited with Michael outside, he said yes!
Such an emotional episode! Thanks for watching #911onFOX. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/I0bZQfpCEx
— 9-1-1 on FOX (@911onFOX) November 16, 2021
However, Michael had another announcement for the family: “As you know, David is going to use his incredible gifts to help those in need in Haiti. And I’ve decided to go with him. I can’t save lives, but I can help rebuild one.” He already talked to Harry, and he got May’s approval as well.
“I learned from watching you,” he told his daughter, then turned to the others. “All of you, really. With my brain tumor and then the pandemic and then my job, at times I really felt a little lost. But last night, I watched people come together and same someone that they didn’t even know, more than one, and I said to myself, I can do that, too. … Not in an actual fire, because that’s terrifying and you people are crazy.”
While Athena was happy for him and David, “I am going to miss you,” she said, but “we’ll always be family.” And with a family hug and a montage, 9-1-1 has said goodbye to Michael. (Dunbar has retweeted posts from fans expressing how much they’ll miss him and his character on the Fox first responder drama.)
There is a built-in way for him (and David!) to return. (Come on, they have to have their wedding in Los Angeles, with the family, right?) David had originally said his trip was a month or two, maybe longer. That “longer” could easily stretch into however long it needs to. We’ll have to wait and see if we see either Michael or David again or if we just hear about their lives in Haiti (or even perhaps an off-screen return to Los Angeles) from the rest of the family.
9-1-1, Mondays, 8/7c, Fox
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Comments are closed on this story.
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O
I liked Michael and was disappointed by his departure and 9-1-1’s silence about it - until this. I work on a TV set. Actors and background actors wear masks except when filming a take. Crew wears masks 100% of the time. We’re tested for Covid 3 times a week. Even with the masks, people were still testing positive. Then they, and anyone who was contact traced, had to leave set and quarantine. Several people left when our vaccine mandates weren’t into effect on our set. While I was sad to see some of them go, I fully support vaccine mandates. Covid will keep mutating until enough of us are vaccinated.
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C
LOL No. Everyone has a right to say yes or or no to vaccinations for THEMSELVES. They do not have the right to FORCE other people to. It's not someone else's job to protect you from infection. That's YOUR job to protect yourself. Vaccinated people are still getting COVID. They're still spreading it. They're still dying. Vaccination is not a guarantee you won't get it. You want to get vaccinated, fine. But, nobody has the right to force someone else to. Take responsibility for YOURSELF. Don't expect other people to. Especially, when the REAL science has disproven everything the government has told us about COVID. They've lied about everything. This is not about public health and safety. It's about protecting Biden, since more people have died from COVID under his administration. Now, he wants to pretend that didn't happen.
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another trumper.. stop taking all medications, treatment all together for any illness in the future. after all, someone still dies with treatment & everything is a lie. silly how people can mix a tv show, politics, media, medical practices all into one pot..
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So companies should force ppl to get a vaccine to possibly help the virus from mutating? Companies? I disagree with that. If I stop it from spreading I would whike heartedly agree but it doesn't. A non vaccinated person is more at risk 4 being around us than we are around them. I really want to understand the reason folks are being ostracized 4 not being vaccinated while others are out here unmasked...gathering in large crowds etc.
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What about MY BODY / MY CHOICE…??? If abortion is legal because it’s her body/her choice then IT IS NOT LEGAL TO TELL AN AMERICAN WHAT THEY MUST DO TO THEIR BODY!…. Besides, the vaccines don’t cover mutations in the virus & so far shows no real effectiveness even for the virus it’s supposed to fight. It’s no one’s right to forcibly inject pharmaceuticals into American’s bodies!
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I didnt want the vaccine but did take it because of my relationship with someone undergoing cancer treatments. Helping to protect her. The second shot affected my health big time. I lost months of activity because of what it did to my heart . Mr Dunbar I will miss you and support your decision. God blessvyou
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I believe in choice. I am fully vaccinated, but respect his decision…great actor and character will be missed.
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If you are fully vaccinated from Covid, and you test positive, you can spread the virus for about 4 days, if you are not vaccinated and you test positive but don't become ill, you can spread the virus for about 12 days. I do not understand people that refuse to be vaccinated (except for medical reasons.) Why are you willing to harbor a virus that is a killer? Does anybody remember Polio? I do. Our parents couldn't wait to get us vaccinated. I just don't understand . . .
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OK please do not mention Polio that vaccine cured you from getting Polio so yes it is a vaccine. This is not a vaccine it is a shot just like the flu shot it prevents you from getting sicker but doesnt prevent you from dying so stop calling it a Vaccine
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B
Stop with the Polio stuff too. 99% of us who chose against covid shot are 100% vaccinated in everything else because they are actual tested vaccines. And also, Where do you even get your stats? There is no empirtical data anywhere that states "an unvaccinated/asymptomatic person spreads the virus for 12 days and a vaccinated is only 4 days". As a matter of fact, they actually aren't sure anymore that asymptomatic people even spread it now.
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I applaud Mr Dunbar for standing up for his beliefs and pray that he will continue to be blessed. It’s sad that people are being forced to get a shot that isn’t even necessary for most of the population. I’m not against vaccines, I’m against the lies, lack of information, reporting and support for adverse affects and government or companies controlling our personal medical decisions, periodtttt. If your doctor thinks you shouldn’t get the vaccine, you shouldn’t be allowed to lose your job over it. Maybe when the amount of money lost to lawsuits is greater than their profit and kickbacks, this bull will stop if the courts don’t stop it first. We all know it’s about money. Greedy hypocrites in D.C.
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R
I watch this show faithfully every week. Besides Jennifer Love Hewitt and Chimney, I will miss Michael very much. Each had their own stories to add and hopefully each will come back soon!!!!
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I've liked you as an actor since SOA, and all through 9-1-1. This makes me appreciate you that much more! Hold true to your beliefs and may God bless you Sir! You're setting a great example for your children.
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WELL SAID.
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O
What about MY BODY / MY CHOICE…??? If abortion is legal because it’s her body/her choice then IT IS NOT LEGAL TO TELL AN AMERICAN WHAT THEY MUST DO TO THEIR BODY!…. It’s no one’s right to forcibly inject pharmaceuticals into American’s bodies!
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B
I'm sad to see him go but respect his decision to make a stand about our right to NOT get the Covid shot if we choose so. It should be a choice...not a mandate!
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O
You're confusing "forcing" people to do things with giving them consequences. Nobody is forcing anybody to do anything.
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G
I don't think Disney is right. We all have a choice and if the others are vaccinated then they had nothing to worry about anyway.
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I’m glad to hear more actors are refusing to comply with the vaccine mandate. I don’t blame them that Covid vaccine is killing people and no one should be forced to take it is against their constitutional rights. I know for a fact those that I know that took the vaccine ended up getting Covid. Those ttt he at haven’t are fine.
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Mr Michael Dunbar not a good choice by not being vaccinated. Guess you've saved enough $ to go for a long while. Not sure of what your "medical" reason was that you were trying to use not to have it, but the religious aspects have caused several people I do know & loved to lose their lives because they would not accept life saving methods offered for all kinds of illnesses - don't believe that's what anyone's God or Lord would want after all he created us - to live long, happy & prosper. Good Luck! I enjoy the show but you will be missed by all.ss
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C
It's actually a great choice. Vaccination does not prevent you from getting COVID or speeding it. That's why people who were vaccinated still get it and spread it. That's why people who have been vaccinated have died as well.
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B
I guess whatever god he has as an imaginary friend doesn’t want people doing things to protect the vulnerable So many of today’s gods want their followers to be selfish and self-centered. This actor must worship one of those.
I’m a theatre employee and my employer mandated full vaccination months ago as we were preparing to start our first live performance in nearly 19 months. I happily complied. I don’t want to risk catching something and then making my family or coworkers sick. While the vaccine won’t prevent all cases, it will reduce my chances of catching and spreading disease by about 80%.
Don’t let the door hot you on the way out!
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It's not everyone else's responsibility to protect YOU. That's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
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G
I suppose you also believe Trump won the election
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O
What a loving Christian you are. Good thing God isn’t real or your church would fall down on you…
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Good for you! Last time I checked the FDA Vaers, there are another 17,500 people who happily complied and are dead, another 71,000 suffering from Myocarditis and over 150,000 having neurological issues. We will miss you Mr. Dunbar and respect choice all around.
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His role on the show was not at all that significant to me, personally -- so I won't "miss" Mr. Dunbar.
As for his very vaguely referenced reasons for not being vaccinated ... *SHRUG*.
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