One of the most-watched series on Max, The Sex Lives of College Girls, is about to go through some major changes. The gifted actress and singer Reneé Rapp, who is most known for playing Leighton Murray in the Mindy Kaling-created comedy, announced her resignation from the project in July 2023.
Rapp shared this information with her followers on social media and thanked everyone from the bottom of her heart for the experience and the enormous influence that playing Leighton has had on her life.
In a sincere and emotional post on Instagram, Rapp wrote,
“College girls moved me out to L.A. and introduced me to some of my favorite people. Two and a half years later—it’s given me y’all and this community. Thank you, Mindy, Justin, and everyone at Max for believing in me.”
She emphasized the significance of Leighton as a representation of queer identity and how the role has personally transformed her. Rapp also expressed her excitement for the upcoming season, hinting at surprises in store for Leighton and the rest of the girls.
Yet it left many wondering why Rapp was leaving the series and what the future holds for her.
Update January 12, 2024: In honor of the release of Mean Girls, this article has been updated with more information regarding Rapp’s upcoming future projects.
Reneé Rapp’s Road to Success
Born and raised in North Carolina, 24-year-old Reneé has already started following her passion at a young age. She was still in school when she first stepped onto the stage as part of a theater program, exploring her talent for a few years. It didn’t take long until she gained recognition, having landed a role on Broadway when she was only 19 years old.
Between 2019 and 2020, Reneé stood on stage for the Broadway musical Mean Girls, which was based on Tina Fey’s 2004 movie of the same name, stepping into the role of the main antagonist and high school Queen, Regina George. Her portrayal of this iconic role, which was first played by Hollywood legend Rachel McAdams in the original movie, has kick-started her career. Not long after the musical was shut down, Rapp announced her new project.
Taking on one of the four main roles, the actress played the role of Leighton Murray in the teen comedy-drama series The Sex Lives of College Girls for two seasons. While her announcement to leave the show really came rather unexpected, it didn’t mean her time in the film industry came to an end.
Already having Mean Girl’s Regina George energy in her, it came as no surprise that Reneé was asked to reprise her role in Paramount+’s musical adaptation of Mean Girls and quickly accepted the offer to join Angourice Rice, Christopher Briney, and many more in front of the camera. Regina, who is known as the most popular girl in school and was blessed with an abundant amount of confidence, is threatened in her position when the new girl, Cady Heron (Rice), comes to school and slowly but surely climbs up the social ladder. Tina Fey’s project seemingly stood out as being a safe space for Rapp, healing some old wounds of rough experiences in the industry, and allowing her to feel comfortable at work.
While Rapp has proven that she is incredibly talented when it comes to appearing in front of a camera, it is no secret that the young star also has an impressive singing voice. Having performed on various stages over the years, she finally announced her very first tour at the end of 2022. “Everything to Everyone: The First Shows” included a string of four concerts in the US, and was very well received by her fans.
In 2023, the actress and singer was even nominated for an MTV Video Music Award in the category “Best New Artist”, acknowledging her skills and shining a light on the rising star. Even though she has gained quite a fan base due to her outstanding performances on screen, Rapp has made the decision to focus on her music career and leave acting behind for now. Regarding the acting industry as an anxiety-inducing place, she seems to have her comfort place on stage and in front of a microphone.
Reneé Rapp Left The Sex Lives of College Girls to Focus on Her Music Career
The Sex Lives of College Girls’ Rapp left the show, marking the end of her tenure as a series regular. Rapp’s depiction of Leighton, a legacy student at the fictitious Essex College, struggling under the weight of her mother’s expectations throughout the course of the first two seasons, resonated with viewers and received excellent praise.
The departure aligns with Rapp’s burgeoning music career as she already had big plans regarding her Snow Hard Feelings Tour, a promotional endeavor for her widely loved album, Snow Angel, which was released on August 18. In February 2024, Rapp will be back on stage for her Snow Hard Feelings tour, traveling to different cities and meeting her fans up until the middle of June. The tour spans over a few months with the last concert set to take place at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester.
While many expected part of the reason Rapp would be leaving the series was to focus on a movie career, as she has received extremely positive reviews for her role in Mean Girls, with many citing her as the breakout star, Rapp appears to want to pull away from acting altogether and put the emphasis on her music. In a profile by the LA Times in October 2023, they detailed how Rapp’s big passion was to pursue being a pop star and that acting was always a secondary concern. While Mean Girls could be a star-making performance, Rapp has no future projects signed up. She said “I go back and forth, because I get so anxious on sets and I feel s— about myself, so I feel like I shouldn’t put myself back in that environment,”
Variety has reported that Rapp will make recurring appearances during the third season before bidding a final farewell to the show. There is no doubt that Reneé has made herself a name in acting as well as the music industry, and even though there are no guarantees as to if or when she will return to acting, no one can take her passion for making music from her.
Mindy Kaling, the mind behind The Sex Lives of College Girls, expressed her unwavering support for Rapp’s new ventures through her Instagram Story. Kaling’s words echo the bittersweet sentiment surrounding Rapp’s departure from the show. Apart from her stellar performance in the series, Rapp has been making waves in the music industry.
She inked a deal with Interscope Records in 2022 and released her debut EP, Everything to Everyone, in November 2023. Her recent album, Snow Angel, was well-received by fans. With Mean Girls being a musical, it is likely that the album will be a big hit on streamers and TikTok due to Rapp’s musical numbers.
Fans of The Sex Lives of College Girls have expressed intense desire in response to Leighton Murray’s departure and the tangible anticipation for the impending release of the highly anticipated third season. They long for the engrossing tapestry of stories that have grown intimately entwined with the very heart of this program to continue inexorably in the upcoming episodes. The series promises to dig further into the perplexing world of collegiate living, delicately probing the ever-shifting interplay of camaraderie and self-exploration as the various individuals prepare themselves for new challenges and set out on personal odysseys of progress.
What Is The Sex Lives of College Girls About?
The Sex Lives of College Girls, Mindy Kaling, and Justin Noble’s great creation, has received much praise for accurately portraying the complex tapestry of college life. This outstanding series deftly conveys the nuanced relationship dynamics, the sexual experimentation, and the profound path of human development while deftly fusing relatability and comedy in perfect harmony. The program has unquestionably carved a special place in fans’ hearts, solidifying its status as a beloved jewel with its thunderous critical acclaim and unwavering popular support.
While fans will certainly be unhappy to see the character of Leighton Murray go, they may take comfort in knowing that the first two seasons are still available to watch on Max. Leighton’s departure has an obvious impact, but the story never stops delving into the complex web of the surviving identities. Enter the naive Kimberly, played by Pauline Chalamet, the outgoing Bela, depicted by Amrit Kaur, and the tenacious Whitney, courtesy of Alyah Chanelle Scott. Now, the series can take a real issue that happens in college: when one friend leaves and finds new friends.
The prospect of introducing a new character can be scary and sometimes has doomed a television show, but other series have excelled at it. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia didn’t truly find its voice until Danny DeVito came into the cast in season 2, and many would argue J.B. Smoove’s Leon on Curb Your Enthusiasm made the series better. A new friend joining the girls could add new stories and make the series better.
Rapp’s departure is accompanied by a combination of thanks, joy, and optimism for her musical career and next film role. Fans may still enjoy the previous two seasons of the program and enthusiastically look forward to the future advancements and evolution of the remaining characters as they prepare for Leighton’s departure. The Sex Lives of College Girls maintains viewers’ attention with its accurate depiction of college life, and the upcoming season promises more exploration and amusement.
The Sex Lives of College Girls is streaming on Max.
