Leah Lewis Finally Speaks On David Del Rio’s Sudden Matlock Exit Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

Days before the Oct. 12 Season 2 premiere, Matlock is in flux after David Del Rio’s dismissal amid sexual assault allegations. Leah Lewis breaks her silence with a message of love and strength, signaling the show’s shifting mood behind the scenes.

There is a lot happening around CBS's Matlock right now. After David Del Rio was fired over sexual assault allegations, the show is pressing ahead with Season 2 while figuring out what to do with footage already in the can. And this week, co-star Leah Lewis stepped in with a clear message about where her head is at.

Leah Lewis speaks up

Lewis, who plays first-year associate Sarah Franklin on the series, posted a short update on Instagram with her mom by her side. It was calm, steady, and pretty unmistakable about how she wants this to be framed:

"Mom is here, we’re moving forward in love and strength. I’m in good hands. Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care. Truly, we’re moving forward in strength. Key word, strength. Please, let that be the takeaway."

Short version: she appreciates the support, and she wants the emphasis on moving forward.

What happened with David Del Rio

Deadline reports that CBS fired Del Rio after an internal investigation into an incident that allegedly happened on September 26 involving Lewis. On the day the incident was reported, security escorted Del Rio off the lot. Variety adds that producers will write his character, Billy Martinez (another first-year associate at the Jacobson Moore law firm), out of future episodes.

Here is the tricky part: the team had already filmed more than half of Season 2 before Del Rio was removed. CBS has not said whether the episodes that include him will air as-is or be reshot. For now, the network is not commenting further on the investigation.

Where Season 2 stands now

The series is still led by Kathy Bates as Matlock, with Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, and Beau Bridges returning. Justina Machado is joining the upcoming season in a recurring role. Production is currently on a pre-planned hiatus and is expected to resume after Thanksgiving, which gives them some breathing room to sort out edits, rewrites, and any pickups they might need.

As of now, Matlock Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on October 12, 2025.

• Sept. 26: Alleged incident involving Lewis; report is made; Del Rio is escorted off the lot (per Deadline).
• After investigation: CBS fires Del Rio (per Deadline).
• More than half of Season 2 was already shot before his removal.
• Producers will write Billy Martinez out of future episodes (per Variety).
• CBS has not said if Del Rio's completed scenes will air or be reshot.
• Production is on a pre-planned hiatus; filming aims to resume after Thanksgiving.
• Season 2 premiere date: October 12, 2025.

None of this is simple, obviously. But Lewis's message is pretty pointed: she is leaning on family and pushing ahead. The show is doing the same, albeit with some behind-the-scenes wrinkles still to iron out.