The Real Reason David Del Rio Was Fired From Matlock
Matlock returns for Season 2 with Matty Matlock digging deeper into her daughter’s mysterious death — but Billy is nowhere to be seen. Reports say David Del Rio was fired; here’s why.
Matlock is back for Season 2, but one of last season's key players has vanished. If you noticed Billy missing and wondered what happened, you are not alone. The off-screen situation is serious, the timeline is messy, and the show suddenly has a big hole to patch.
So where did Billy go?
David Del Rio, who played Billy, was a major part of Season 1. By the finale, it was revealed that Billy was the father of Claudia's baby, and the two decided to raise the child together. Season 2, meanwhile, keeps pushing forward with Matty Matlock's hunt for the truth about her daughter's death — but without Billy in the mix. Del Rio is out of the show.
What reportedly happened off set
According to multiple reports, Del Rio was fired during Season 2 production following an internal investigation into an allegation of sexual assault involving his co-star Leah Lewis. Here is the timeline as it has been reported:
- Sep 26, 2025: The alleged incident reportedly took place in Leah Lewis's trailer on the Paramount lot.
- Oct 2, 2025: An internal investigation was conducted and Del Rio was fired that same day.
Some accounts say he was terminated the same day the accusation was raised; others specify Oct 2 as the date both the investigation and the firing happened. The gist: the studio moved quickly and Del Rio is no longer on Matlock.
Has anyone said anything on the record?
As of now, neither CBS nor David Del Rio has publicly commented on the allegation or the termination. Leah Lewis has not addressed it directly either, but she did post a message that appears to reference the situation.
'Mom is here. We are moving forward in love and strength. I am in good hands. Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care. Truly, we are moving forward in strength. Key word, strength. Let that be the takeaway.'
— Leah Lewis, via Instagram (as relayed by ScreenRant)
What this means for Season 2
This puts the writers in a bind. Billy was central to Claudia's story, and some of his Season 2 material had already been filmed before the firing. How the show handles his absence — recuts, reshoots, write-around, or a sudden exit — is not clear yet. Expect adjustments as the season unfolds.