LaRoyce Hawkins thanks the fans for their support in emotional goodbye to Chicago PD
Minutes after his final episode of Chicago PD aired, LaRoyce Hawkins took to Instagram to thank the fans for their support.
Chicago PD has officially closed the book on LaRoyce Hawkins’ run on the show. The second episode of season 14 served as a sendoff to one of the show’s most beloved actors and characters, bringing Hawkins’ time on the show to a close with one of Chicago PD‘s finest sendoffs.
Just minutes after the episode drew to a close, Hawkins broke his silence via Instagram, posting a brief thank you message to the fans for all of their support through the years.
“Thank you, thank you. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for supporting the show. Thank you for your energy and your enthusiasm towards Chicago PD. Thank you,” Hawkins addressed the fans mere minutes after his final episode aired.
The message shared via his Instagram Stories marked the first true statement Hawkins has released about his exit, as he’s been relatively quiet on social media when it’s come to addressing his departure from the show. His first acknowledgment of his exit came at the start of production on season 14, in which he posted a photo with costar Marina Squerciati, noting that he would “miss her the most.”
Outside of that post, Hawkins has remained relatively quiet on his exit, which is what made his video message so unexpected. It’s clear that Hawkins wanted to finally break his silence in a simple manner, thanking the fans who have been by his side and supported him throughout the years.
We’ll have to wait to see if he chooses to release a more in-depth goodbye message once the dust settles, but we love that he immediately took to Instagram to address the fans. And although he might not have posted a more detailed message on his page, his co-stars certainly showered him with love on the day of his final episode.
“Tonight we say farewell to a Chicago Legend. A true icon. He graced our TV screens for fourteen incredible seasons. And grace is the word of the day. Because you, my dear LaRoyce Hawkins, did this with absolute grace. You learned from, taught, loved everyone on that set with a fierce passion. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Karen Obilom, who plays Hawkins’ love interest on the show, Tasha Fox, wrote.
“And I want you to give yourself grace as you navigate a new reality. A new chapter. You deserve every beautiful thing that solidifies in front of your eyes. I am so excited for you. I am beyond proud of you and beyond honored to know you. Thank you for treating me like an absolute Queen through the whole thing. I am forever your family. And you are mine,” she concluded.
Hawkins’ former costar Jesse Lee Soffer also took to Instagram to celebrate his friend, calling it a pleasure to get to direct his final episode on the show.
“Look at these youngsters! I can’t believe it’s been 14 seasons, man. I had the honor and the pleasure of directing LaRoyce Hawkins in his last episode of PD and it airs tonight. He absolutely kills it! Congrats, brother. Love you mucho.”
It was certainly an incredible episode. While it was bittersweet to see Hawkins’ time on the show come to an end, the show gave him an amazing sendoff that kept the door open for him to return down the line. Hawkins gave a standout performance, and his speech at the end of the episode brought tears to our eyes, for it was not only an end for Atwater but also for Hawkins, who has meant so much to so many of us through the years.
Chicago PD airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.