The Sex Lives of College Girls fans are facing a bittersweet farewell as Reneé Rapp’s character, Leighton Murray, exits the show in the third season. The popular Max comedy series, which returned for its third season on November 21, marks the end of an era for Rapp, whose portrayal of the witty, wealthy sorority girl was central to the first two seasons. Rapp’s departure, however, is not without reason, as the rising star has chosen to focus on her music career.
Rapp, who first gained widespread recognition for her role as Leighton, announced her exit in July 2023, revealing she was stepping away from acting to pursue her music dreams. The actress, also a talented singer, had long hoped to prioritize music, a passion she discussed in multiple interviews prior to her departure from the series.
“I can do music on the side, like, I can just hustle,” Rapp told Variety in November 2022. “And now I’ve just kept acting, because it keeps supporting the music. Acting was my way into tricking everyone that I warranted attention.”
Her breakout role in The Sex Lives of College Girls not only propelled her acting career but also helped launch her music journey. Rapp signed a record deal with Interscope, released her debut album Snow Angel in 2023, and earned a 2023 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best New Artist.
Why Reneé Rapp Left The Sex Lives of College Girls
Rapp’s departure was a highly anticipated and emotional moment for fans and cast members alike. In her farewell post on X (formerly Twitter) in July 2023, she expressed deep gratitude for her time on the show, particularly for the role Leighton played in her personal growth.
“A lot of queer work gets belittled, but playing Leighton has changed my life,” Rapp shared in her post. “I love who I am 10x more than I did before knowing her. I hope she gave y’all a little bit of that too.”
While her exit from The Sex Lives of College Girls was bittersweet, Rapp made it clear that her passion for music had always been a driving force. In a candid conversation with The Cut in August 2023, she revealed that music had always been the primary goal for her, with acting serving as a stepping stone.
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“I was so desperate to create my own sound,” Rapp said, reflecting on the early days of her music career. “It took really insane situations.”
Despite the fulfillment she found in acting, Rapp also opened up about the personal challenges she faced while filming the first season of the show, particularly dealing with her sexuality and being in a heteronormative relationship at the time.
“It sucked so bad, because at the time, I was in a heteronormative relationship. I hated going to work because I was like, ‘I don’t think I’m good enough to be here.’” Rapp shared in a March 2023 episode of Call Her Daddy. “I was constantly in panic.”
What’s Next for Leighton Murray?
Although Rapp won’t be a series regular in season 3, she does appear in a few episodes as a recurring character. Her departure from the show was difficult for the cast, especially for co-star Alyah Chanelle Scott, who plays Leighton’s roommate Whitney Chase.
“Shooting that was very emotional, but also very silly, because she lives three minutes away from me,” Scott told Vulture in November 2024. “So it wasn’t like, bye, see you never — it was like, see you tonight!”
While there will be no direct replacement for Leighton, new characters will join the show in the form of Gracie Lawrence and Mia Rodgers, who play Essex newcomers Kacey and Taylor. Showrunner Justin Noble expressed his satisfaction with how Leighton’s storyline is handled in the new season.
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“We knew what Leighton’s future would look like soon after Reneé’s exit,” Noble said ahead of the season’s release. “I’m really glad about the way it came across on the show.”
Cast Reactions to Rapp’s Departure
Following Rapp’s departure announcement, cocreator Mindy Kaling expressed her affection for the actress, writing on Instagram Stories, “We love @reneerapp so much and of course will be so sad to say goodbye to Leighton Murray. But we can’t wait to see our friend on tour.”
For Scott, adjusting to the absence of her on-screen and off-screen best friend was challenging. “It’s so bittersweet and so heavy and sad and so beautiful,” Scott said. However, she noted that the new group dynamic helped solidify the bond among the cast in a “new, fun way.”
Reneé Rapp’s Transition to Music
Since announcing her departure, Rapp has fully embraced her music career. After completing season 2 of The Sex Lives of College Girls, she joined the cast of the 2024 Mean Girls musical film, reprising her Broadway role as Regina George. Additionally, Rapp released her debut EP Everything to Everyone in 2022 and followed up with her full-length album Snow Angel in August 2023.
She has since performed at major music festivals, including Lollapalooza in Chicago and All Things Go Festival in New York, and toured internationally on her Snow Hard Feelings Tour. Rapp’s music has resonated with fans, and she continues to build momentum in the industry.
“I’ve been saying that [music] is my thing my whole life, without having really done it,” Rapp said in 2022. “I was like, ‘This is it.’ I’ve been professing that I wanna do this, I wanna play shows, I wanna make it, but it wasn’t until about a week ago that I knew I could actually do that.”
Though Rapp’s time on The Sex Lives of College Girls is coming to a close, her impact on the show, particularly through her portrayal of Leighton, will be remembered. As she continues to focus on her music career, fans can look forward to seeing more of Rapp in both the music industry and future acting projects. Her journey is one of reinvention and self-discovery, something that fans of The Sex Lives of College Girls have witnessed and supported throughout the years.
For now, fans can catch her final episodes of The Sex Lives of College Girls in season 3, streaming now on Max.
