Gilmore Girls’ Scott Patterson shares controversial statement as he exits Netflix series Sullivan’s Crossing

Sullivan’s Crossing season four will see a big shake-up as Scott Patterson has exited the series as Harry “Sully” Sullivan. Sully is the estranged father of the lead character Maggie (Morgan Kohan), whom viewers first met in season one when Maggie returned to her hometown in Nova Scotia to be closer to her father after facing legal issues in Boston. 

However, Scott has now taken to Instagram to deny claims from the showrunner that they had “moved on” from the character, insisting that “creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue”.

“Every actor knows what it’s like to fall in love with a character and a story. I fell in love with Sully and have nothing but fondness for him,” Scott – who found fame as Luke Danes in Gilmore Girls – wrote on Instagram.

“It’s unfortunate that it is now being implied that they moved on from me/Sully when the fact is the complete opposite, and those who sadly already have spoken out are also fully aware of this fact, and yet chose to say otherwise.”

Scott went on to say that he did not “intend” to make any statement but that fans “of the books and the show deserve to know the truth as I have always been respectful of those who support this industry by watching and loving these characters we are so dang lucky and blessed to portray and bring to life”.

“I really enjoyed Sully and fought for his voice and his character,” he added. “The richness and depth of Sully, whom the fans of the books all know and love, is so multi-layered and interesting.  The fans deserved better than to think the embodiment of this character, me, would just disrespect not only the show, but them. In the end, we’re all fans of these characters and stories, and I’ll always support and defend the truth.”

” I won’t be watching the show without you/Sully. It won’t be the same,” commented one fan, as another thanked Scott for being “honest and sticking to doing what makes you happy”.

Season four will pick up days after the end of season three, which will allow for Sully to be missing from the show, as at the end of season three, fans saw Sully and his new love, Helen (Kate Vernon), travel to Ireland. Sully left his business, the titular Sullivan’s Crossing, im the capable hands of Maggie, and his decision to choose love over his career, also inspired Maggie to rekindle her romance with former love Cal (Chad Michael Murray). 

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Showrunner and executive producer Roma Roth insisted that Sully “remains an important part of the world with the potential to be included in future seasons should that align with the ongoing creative”.

Inspirational, feel-good TV shows have become the new hit dramas, in the vein of Virgin River, When Calls The Heart, and Sweet Magnolias. Sullivan’s Crossing is based on a series of books by Robyn Carr, who also authored the Virgin River series upon which the popular Netflix show is based. 

“The world right now is hard and these kinds of shows let you sit down for an hour, go on a journey with these characters that you learn to love, and you enjoy your time and get taken out of whatever else is going on in your world,” Morgan told HELLO! in 2023.

“There’s nothing too crazy or dark here; you’re going to leave that hour feeling good and a lot of the time, for me anyway, it makes me want to call my own family and my friends, and bring my community closer together which I think is a beautiful thing. Sullivan’s Crossing, Virgin River, When Calls The Heart – all of them are about tight-knit communities where everybody is in it together.”