Dre (Miriam A. Hyman) was a key character inThe Chi, but her abrupt exit left some viewers scratching their heads. Dre is first introduced inThe Chiin season 3, episode 1, “Foe ‘Nem”, as a high school counselor and Nina Williams’ (Tyla Abercrumbie) new partner, eventually marrying her. Nina is the perfect person to slide into Kevin’s (Alex R. Hibbert) and Kiesha’s (Birgundi Baker) lives, and she takes her role as a co-parent to Nina’s children seriously. New characters are often introduced inthis Showtime original series, but Dre made a real impact.
While Dre was never a part of the main cast, she appeared in nearly every episode of seasons 3 through 6 and provided a strong foundation for her family. Not only was Hyman excellent, Dre was a strongLGBTQ+ character in the popular series, and her relationship with Nina was normalized to the point that it was barely even commented on. Soit was odd when Dre suddenly announced she was leavingand the character was hastily written off the show. Adding to the confusion was Hyman’s public response to her departure.
No BTS Reason Was Given For Dre’s Exit From The Chi Season 6
Miriam Hyman Immediately Deleted Social Media Posts About The Chi After Her Departure
In season 6, episode 9, “The Aftermath,” Dre announces to Nina that she is still in love with her ex, a revelation that came as much of a shock to the audience as it did to Nina. Nina has to explain to a tearful Kiesha that Dre won’t be returning and Keisha and Dre say their goodbyes as Dre exits the show after four seasons. It’s a surprisingly abrupt departure, butsome behind-the-scenes issues may have some answers.
WhileThe Chinever gave a reason for Dre’s departure, Hyman quickly deleted all her posts on Instagram that had anything to do withThe Chi, suggesting her exit from the series was not amicable.
WhileThe Chinever gave a reason for Dre’s departure, Hyman quickly deleted all her posts onInstagramthat had anything to do withThe Chi, suggesting her exit from the series was not amicable. It’s not entirely unusual foractors to leave their TV shows out of nowhereand there are plenty of reasons for Hyman leavingThe Chi. Hyman is a musician, with her own label,Truth Teller Productions, so she could have decided to put more time into that venture.
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Hyman also began appearing on the TV showPower Book IV: Forcein 2022 as AUSA Stacy Marks, a supporting character. It’s possible she weighed her commitments to both shows against one another anddecided thatPower Book IV: Forcewas where she was going to put her time and energy.
Dre Did A Lot For Black LGBTQ+ Representation
Dre And Nina Have A Normalized Relationship On The Chi
Dre was an important character for Black LGBTQ+ representationnot only onThe Chibut also on television. Nina and Dre’s relationship is barely commented on in the show, making it more normalized than lesbian and gay relationships in other series. Furthermore, Dre is immediately an important figure in the lives of Nina’s children, dispelling a homophobic and untrue idea that children are somehow disadvantaged by being raised in an LGBTQ+ household.
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“The Aftermath”
The importance of a Black LGBTQ+ character on a major TV show was not lost on Hyman (viaCBSNews),
“I didn’t want her to be a stereotype, I wanted her to be somebody that everybody can know and love. If you do or you don’t, there’s definitely going to be that level of respect there. Let’s rejoice and celebrate that we are very different. We have not only love, but Black love shown in this show. With the climate of the country and the world, I thought it was so important to ensure the love was there. I like to call it HOT: honest, open and truthful. I’m proud to be a part of a show that isn’t afraid to show that Black love and love can exist in this way. It was never a question or any issue when I found out I was going to be married to her [Nina]. I was like dope, cool.”
Dre is decidedly not a stereotype. Though she likely won’t be returning toThe Chiat any point, Dre’s run on the show was critical both to the story and for what it meant to Black LGBTQ+ representation.
The Chi
Cast
The Chi is a drama series created by Lena Waithe, set on the South Side of Chicago. It follows a group of residents whose lives become interconnected through everyday challenges. Central characters include Brandon, an aspiring chef; Kevin, a teenager grappling with coming-of-age issues; and Emmett, a young father trying to provide for his son. The series explores themes of friendship, community, and perseverance in a vibrant urban setting.
