In a stunning twist that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, Hunter Doohan, the breakout star known for his chilling portrayal of Tyler Galpin in Netflix’s hit series Wednesday, has announced his departure from the show’s highly anticipated third season. The 30-year-old actor, whose on-screen chemistry with lead Jenna Ortega captivated millions, revealed that the decision stems from a deeply personal crisis: safeguarding his marriage to husband Fielder Jewett. Amid swirling tabloid rumors of a steamy off-screen romance with Ortega, Doohan disclosed that Jewett, a rising director in his own right, issued an ultimatum demanding distance from the Wednesday set to preserve their three-year union. This unprecedented move not only upends the production timeline but also highlights the raw human cost of fame in Tinseltown.

The announcement came late last night via Doohan’s personal social media channels, where he posted a poignant black-and-white photo of himself and Jewett on their wedding day in June 2022, followed by a lengthy caption explaining his choice. “After much soul-searching and heartfelt conversations, I’ve decided to step away from Wednesday Season 3,” Doohan wrote. “My heart belongs to this incredible show and its family, but my marriage comes first. Fielder and I have built something beautiful, and I won’t let external pressures tear it apart. Thank you for understanding.” The post, which has already garnered over 2 million likes and thousands of comments ranging from supportive to devastated, marks the end of an era for fans who had been eagerly awaiting more of Tyler’s monstrous arc.

Doohan’s journey to stardom has been nothing short of meteoric. Born in Arkansas and raised in a conservative household, the openly gay actor burst onto the scene with roles in indie films and TV before landing the pivotal part of Tyler in Wednesday. The Tim Burton-directed series, a modern reimagining of the Addams Family, premiered in November 2022 and quickly became Netflix’s second-most-watched English-language show ever, with over 1.7 billion hours viewed in its first week. Doohan’s Tyler, the barista-turned-hyde who becomes Wednesday Addams’ unwitting pawn in a supernatural conspiracy, was a fan favorite—equal parts brooding heartthrob and tragic villain. His chemistry with Ortega’s deadpan Wednesday was electric, fueling endless “Weyler” (Wednesday-Tyler) shipper theories online. Season 1’s cliffhanger, where Tyler’s monstrous side is unleashed, left audiences clamoring for more, and Season 2, which wrapped filming in Ireland earlier this year and is set for release in late 2025, only deepened the intrigue with Tyler’s redemption arc amid escalating Nevermore Academy chaos.

Off-screen, Doohan’s life appeared picture-perfect. He met Jewett on Tinder in 2019, and their whirlwind romance culminated in a star-studded wedding at a picturesque California vineyard. Attended by fellow Wednesday cast members including Ortega and Emma Myers, the ceremony was a celebration of love amid the glamour of Hollywood. Jewett, 28, has been making waves as a documentary filmmaker, with his latest project on LGBTQ+ rights in the entertainment industry earning festival buzz. The couple has often shared glimpses of their life together—cozy date nights, travels to Europe, and quiet moments at home—portraying a stable partnership that seemed immune to the industry’s temptations.

But beneath the surface, cracks began to form. Rumors of a romance between Doohan and Ortega first surfaced during Season 1 filming in Bucharest, Romania. Paparazzi shots of the duo laughing over coffee and attending after-parties ignited speculation. Social media exploded with fan edits splicing their scenes with romantic filters, and tabloids ran headlines like “Is Tyler Wooing Wednesday for Real?” Ortega, 23 and single at the time, playfully addressed the buzz in interviews, calling Doohan her “work husband” and joking about their “platonic soulmate” vibe. Doohan, ever the professional, laughed it off, emphasizing his commitment to Jewett. Yet, as Season 2 production ramped up in Ireland, the whispers grew louder. Insiders claimed the pair’s late-night script reads and shared hotel proximity (due to grueling 14-hour shoots) blurred professional lines. One leaked set photo of them embracing after a intense emotional scene went viral, prompting Jewett to post a cryptic Instagram story: a quote about “protecting what’s yours.”

The breaking point came earlier this month, just as Wednesday Season 3 pre-production kicked off in Los Angeles. Netflix had greenlit the third installment in July 2025, with filming slated to begin in spring 2026 and a targeted release in mid-2027. Scripts were in early drafts, teasing Tyler’s full embrace of his hyde nature and a potential alliance with Wednesday against a new ancient evil lurking in the Addams family tree. Doohan was contracted for a major role, with showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar hinting at “explosive developments” for the character. But according to sources close to the couple, Jewett confronted Doohan after reading a particularly salacious blind item in a gossip column alleging “midnight rendezvous” between the co-stars.

In a tearful sit-down at their Hollywood Hills home, Jewett laid out his concerns. “Fielder loves Hunter deeply, but the constant scrutiny and these baseless rumors have taken a toll,” a friend of the couple shared. “He’s seen how fame can erode relationships—his own family went through a divorce because of similar Hollywood drama. He doesn’t want to lose what they have.” Jewett’s requests were firm: Doohan must limit non-essential interactions with Ortega, including no off-set socializing, no joint interviews, and a vow to prioritize family time over press junkets. More stringently, he outlined “strict rules” to rebuild trust—no more playing love interests in future projects without spousal approval, mandatory weekly therapy sessions focused on work-life balance, and a temporary relocation to a quieter locale away from L.A.’s rumor mill during the hiatus.

Doohan, torn between his passion for acting and his devotion to Jewett, agonized over the decision for weeks. “Hunter adores Wednesday—it’s been his launchpad,” the friend added. “But Fielder is his rock. They’ve talked about starting a family, adopting maybe, and these rumors were poisoning that dream.” Ultimately, Doohan chose love, notifying Netflix executives last week. The streamer, while disappointed, issued a supportive statement: “We respect Hunter’s personal priorities and wish him and Fielder all the best. Wednesday Season 3 will adapt accordingly, with exciting new directions for our story.”

The fallout has been swift and seismic. Fans flooded social media with heartbreak, trending #SaveTyler and #HunterComeBack under the Wednesday hashtag. “This can’t be real—Tyler is the heart of the show!” one devotee tweeted, while others speculated wildly about recasts or plot twists writing him out dramatically. Shippers mourned the “Weyler” endgame, with fanfiction sites crashing from the influx of alternate-universe stories where Tyler survives the hyde curse unscathed. On the flip side, supporters praised Doohan’s maturity: “Hollywood needs more stories like this—putting real life first,” commented a prominent influencer.

Ortega, reached for comment outside a Los Angeles gym, appeared visibly emotional. “Hunter is family to me. This sucks, but I get it. Our friendship is rock-solid, and I hope he knows we’re here for him.” She’s reportedly advocating for a special tribute episode in Season 3, perhaps flashing back to Tyler’s legacy. Other cast members echoed her sentiments; Percy Hynes White, who plays Xavier, posted a throwback group photo with the caption, “Brother, we’ll miss you on set. Love wins.” Even Tim Burton, the series’ visionary director, weighed in via email to Variety: “Hunter brought such depth to Tyler. His choice is brave, and I respect it fully. The show evolves, but his impact endures.”

For Netflix, the departure poses logistical challenges. With Season 3’s budget already ballooning to $200 million—thanks to elaborate VFX for hyde transformations and Nevermore’s gothic expansions—rewriting Tyler’s arcs will require reshuffling. Insiders suggest the character could be killed off in a pre-Season 3 flashback or recast with a newcomer, though Doohan vetoed the latter to avoid “exploiting his legacy.” Showrunners are pivoting to deepen Wednesday’s alliances with Enid (Myers) and new villains, ensuring the core mystery-thriller vibe remains intact. “Tyler’s absence will add a layer of tragedy,” Gough teased in a brief call. “Wednesday’s world is full of loss— this mirrors that.”

Doohan’s exit also reignites broader conversations about the perils of on-screen intimacy in queer relationships. As an out actor, he’s long been an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility, once telling Out magazine that Wednesday‘s themes of otherness resonated with his own coming-out story. Now, his sacrifice underscores the double standard: straight co-stars flirt with “showmances” without backlash, but queer couples face amplified scrutiny. Jewett’s rules, while private, echo a growing trend among celebrity partners demanding boundaries in an era of 24/7 social media surveillance. “It’s not jealousy; it’s self-preservation,” the couple’s friend clarified. “Fielder supports Hunter’s career but wants it sustainable.”

Looking ahead, Doohan plans a low-key sabbatical. The couple is eyeing a move to Portland, Oregon, for its creative community and distance from paparazzi. Jewett’s next film, a biopic on a gay rights pioneer, might see Doohan in a supporting role—closer to home and sans romance subplots. Fans hope this is temporary; Doohan hinted in his post, “Who knows what the future holds? For now, I’m focusing on us.”

In Hollywood’s glittering yet unforgiving landscape, Hunter Doohan’s choice is a reminder that even monsters have hearts. As Wednesday marches on without its hyde, the real drama unfolds in the lives behind the camera—where love, not lore, writes the truest twists. Whether Tyler Galpin returns in some form remains to be seen, but Doohan’s bold stand has already cemented his off-screen heroism.