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Leah Lewis, star of the popular show Matlock, spoke out on Thursday after her fellow actor was dismissed from the series due to a sexual assault allegation.
David Del Rio, aged 38 and known for playing Billy Martinez, departed from the show after CBS Studios was informed about an on-set incident last week, as confirmed by the Daily Mail.
According to Deadline , the alleged incident occurred on September 26 and involved Lewis, who is 28 years old. Del Rio was reportedly removed from the set on October 2 following an internal investigation, the same day the incident became known.
Lewis responded to the news with an Instagram Stories post showing her hugging her mother.
‘Mom is here, we’re moving forward in love and strength. I’m in good hands,’ she wrote. ‘Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care. Truly, we’re moving forward in strength. Key word, strength. Please, let that be the takeaway.’
The Daily Mail understands Del Rio has been written out of the Kathy Bates-led series for future episodes.
Leah Lewis of the hit series Matlock broke her silence on Thursday after her costar was fired from the series in response to a sexual assault allegation
David Del Rio, 38, who portrayed Billy Martinez (L), was fired from the show after CBS Studios was alerted of an incident on set last week, the Daily Mail can confirm; still from Matlock
Lewis broke her silence on the allegations on Thursday as she shared a photo with her mother, captioned: ‘Mom is here, we’re moving forward in love and strength. I’m in good hands’
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Del Rio and Lewis for comment but has not yet heard back.
A CBS Studios spokesperson declined to comment.
The Emmy nominated series is currently filming its second season, and has already shot about half of the next season, according to Variety.
The show will be undergoing a pre-planned hiatus this month and in November after completion of the first half of the second season.
Sources told the publication that Del Rio was led away by Matlock executive producer Eric Christian Olsen, among others.
TMZ reports Del Rio is accused of sexually assaulting the female Matlock actor on Paramount property.
The show resumed filming after Del Rio’s departure, Deadline adds, and production is expected to return after Thanksgiving.
Season two of Matlock will debut on October 12.
Deadline reports the alleged incident took place on September 26 and involved his 28-year-old costar Lewis. It was claimed Del Rio was escorted off the set following an internal investigation on October 2, the same day the incident was reported; still from Matlock
Del Rio was escorted off the set following an internal investigation. He portrayed Billy Martinez, a first-year associate working at the fictional Jacobson Moore law firm; still form Matlock
Lewis (R) plays Sarah Franklin, a first-year associate, on the show; pictured with Bates (L) and Del Rio (center) on Matlock
Prior to joining Matlock, Lewis played the lead voice role in Pixar’s animated film Elemental (2023), and she previously had major roles in the Netflix dramedy The Half Of It (2020) and on The CW’s Nancy Drew series, which ran from 2019 to 2023; seen in June 2023 in LA
In Matlock, Del Rio portrayed Martinez, a first-year associate working at the fictional Jacobson Moore law firm. Lewis plays Sarah Franklin, a first-year associate, on the show.
Prior to joining Matlock, Lewis played the lead voice role in Pixar’s animated film Elemental (2023), and she previously had major roles in the Netflix dramedy The Half Of It (2020) and on The CW’s Nancy Drew series, which ran from 2019 to 2023.
In September 2024, Lewis spoke about her costar Del Rio with Us Weekly.
‘David Del Rio, who plays Billy, who plays kind of, like, my counterpart, I’ve learned so much about comedy from him,’ she said. ‘He comes from a theater background, so it’s like we’re always dancing and twinkling around set.’
Matlock stars Oscar winner Bates and is loosely based on the legal drama of the same name that starred the late Andy Griffith from 1986–1995. Bates plays the attorney Madeline Matlock opposite Beau Bridges and Jason Ritter.
The show ‘follows Madeline Matlock as she rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm, where she uses her wily tactics to win cases and expose wrongdoing,’ the IMDb synopsis reads.
The rebooted Matlock debuted last year and was renewed for a second season just two episodes into its first season.
Bates has received critical acclaim for her role, and has earned several awards and multiple nominations.
Del Rio’s acting credentials include roles in Pitch Perfect, The Good Doctor, Grease Live, A California Christmas, The Baker and the Beauty, NCIS: Los Angeles and more.
He is married to actress and filmmaker Katherine Del Rio and they have two children together. The couple recently celebrated 12 years together.
‘From when you said “yes” to be my girlfriend 12 years ago… the ride continues. I love you, Flower Child,’ Del Rio posted to his Instagram in late July.
