Jennifer Esposito became a familiar face on “Blue Bloods” after playing Detective Jackie Curatola from the first to the third season. However, Esposito did not return for Season 4 — and her exit was filled with drama. In 2012, the network released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter regarding Esposito’s departure. They shared, “Jennifer has informed us that she is only available to work on a limited part-time schedule. As a result, she’s unable to perform the demands of her role, and we regretfully had to put her character on a leave of absence.” However, Esposito had a different side of the story.
Esposito shared in a since-deleted tweet on X, “CBS knows PUT me on unpaid leave an has blocked me from working anywhere else after my doc said u needed a reduced schedule due to celiac …CBS didn’t listen to my doc and I collapsed on set.” Esposito claimed the network “implied” that she was not truly suffering from the disease and only wanted to get a raise. The actor’s public outrage made it clear that her relationship with the show and network had soured.
After “Blue Bloods,” she continued acting and starred in gigs like “Fresh Kills” and “NCIS.” While “Blue Bloods” fans may have thought they would never see Esposito on the show again, they were proved wrong. The actor delivered a surprise twist by popping up in the final episode of “Blue Bloods” season 13.
