Why is Taye Diggs Leaving All American? How Does Billy Baker Finish Up?

By James Mercado On Feb 21, 2023

The All-American show from this week, which airs on February 13, provided a shocking and sad finale. Taye Diggs’ tenure on the CW series ended when his character Billy Baker passed away at the end of the episode. Coach Billy and his team were traveling home when a bus tire burst.

He and the players all succeeded in exiting the bus before it plunged off a cliff due to the collision, at least in Billy’s opinion. Later in the episode, it was revealed that Jamari (Simeon Daise) and his family had died when he returned to the bus to look for them. What a bold way to pass away for a decent man.

Why is Taye Diggs Leaving All-American?

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Diggs explained why he left after five seasons:

“it was simply a sense.” He continued, “I approached [Carroll] very gingerly, and said, ‘I haven’t made any decisions, but this is what I’m thinking,’ and she understood. “ Soon after, she began suggesting fantastic ways for me to escape.

As soon as she shared her thoughts with me, I was hooked. I’m really enjoying my time on the show. To act, all an actor needs is a gut instinct. Having finished what I could, I felt ready to go on to other challenges.”

Diggs told TVLine that he thought it was the only option, even though some fans could have questioned if Diggs’ departure required his character’s death. The easiest option would have been for him to become a professor at a university, but:

“given the intensity of the relationships between me and my family, and me and the team, it would not make sense if I was still alive and wasn’t still in contact with these children of mine — these students, these young men that had such an influence on my life,”

He said.

“To my surprise, the way I was instructed to leave was quite impressive. That sort of treatment has never been meted out to any of the characters I’ve played. It was quite an honor for me.”

How Does Billy Baker Finish Up in All-American?

Although having a joyful beginning, “All American” season five episode eleven, “Time,” foreshadows the show’s heartbreaking finale by giving Billy (Diggs), who is about to leave South Crenshaw High, hints that something terrible is about to happen.

Throughout the episode and during a combine, many characters, notably Spencer, Billy’s son Jordan (Michael Evans Behling), and the rest of his former Beverly Hills High squad, have second thoughts about Billy’s choice to quit the school. He had a change of heart after the combine and chose to remain.

Tweets about Taye Diggs leaving All American may be found further down the page. Please scroll down to view them:

I know Taye Diggs was leaving the show but they didn’t have to write him off like that I was hoping when it was time for all American to end that we would get see Billy at one or both of the twins weddings and be a grandpa and now we ain’t getting none of that #AllAmerican pic.twitter.com/xyxzccPqBP

— 🦋Alana🦋 (@Alana28191162) February 14, 2023

Nevertheless, things get heated after the presentation when a school bus blows a tire and plunges off a cliff. Everyone exits the bus, and everything seems alright, but Billy returns to save his trapped student Jabari Long from the teetering bus (Simeon Daise).

Spencer’s mother, Grace (Karimah Westbrook), visits him to break the tragic news while a touching message from Billy to Spencer about his choice to stay at South Crenshaw plays in the background. The movie doesn’t truly depict Billy’s death.

If you would like to learn more about All American, you may do so by reading one of our older articles, which are as follows:

The episode ends on a cliffhanger because of the unresolved uncertainties regarding Billy’s demise and his student’s fate. Perhaps, these issues will be resolved in the upcoming episode.

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