Why Jake Borelli ‘Almost Said No’ to Grey’s Anatomy’s Levi Coming-Out Story

Jake Borelli

While Grey’s Anatomy character Levi Schmitt has been unapologetically himself through his career at Grey Sloan Memorial, it took actor Jake Borelli more convincing.

“I had so much trepidation. I almost said no to Krista [Vernoff, the showrunner at the time] when she said that her plan was to have Levi come out,” Borelli, 33, told Variety in an interview published after the Thursday, November 14, episode of Grey’s. “This was after a year of being on the show and playing him not queer, for all I knew. I almost said no, because I knew he would be the first major gay male character in the show, and that would be massive for the show.”

Borelli’s Levi joined the longtime ABC drama in season 14, playing a “sub-i” medical student known for his clumsiness and hooking up with Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) amid one of her splits from Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). Eventually, Levi publicly came out as gay after he found love with orthopedic surgeon Nico Kim (Alex Landi).

Accepting a coming-out story line meant that Borelli would likely be “forced” to disclose his own sexuality. (The actor publicly confirmed in 2018 that he was queer, shortly after the Grey’s episode featuring Levi’s decision aired on the West Coast.)

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“At that point in my life, I wasn’t ready to talk about on the global level, which you can never be prepared for,” Borelli told Variety. “But I did have all these fears that as an out gay person, you couldn’t be successful. … Look, we’re in a time right now where it is even scarier, and being thrust out into the world as a queer person, especially in this time, is terrifying. But, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.”

Jake Borelli and Michael Thomas Grant

He added, “The amount of joy that came from deciding to tell this story in an honest and authentic way is unparalleled, and my life has changed so much for the better after being authentic and vulnerable with myself and, in turn, vulnerable with other people.”

Borelli’s last episode of Grey’s aired on Thursday, in which Levi accepted a six-month research position in San Antonio, Texas, that would boost his chances of earning a pediatric surgery fellowship down the line. Levi also asked that his new love interest, GSM chaplain James (Michael Thomas Grant), join him in the Lone Star State. James agreed and they closed the episode with a kiss.

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Borelli helped showrunner Meg Maranis craft Levi’s final arc.

“All the way up to the end, I was in Meg’s office with her, typing on the computer with her, trying to figure out, ‘What is the best way to end this? What are the conversations he should be having with Jo? What is important in this gay relationship? How does this relationship differ from Nico?’” Borelli recalled to Variety. “We really focused on [Levi and James] having a very good, easy communication style, which led to them navigating this big choice of whether or not they should move across the country together. So there was a lot of input, and I’m really grateful for that.”

Borelli has not disclosed details surrounding his decision to leave Grey’s Anatomy but noted via Instagram that he is “heartbroken” by his departure.

“I was heartbroken when I found out this story line was coming to an end, but I will never take for granted just how much this character has done for not only myself but for people all over the world,” he wrote on Thursday. “When I was growing up, the idea of seeing an out gay man play such a well-rounded, fully formed, and courageous gay character felt like a pipe dream for me. I never would have guessed that I would be the one to get the opportunity to do just that.”

Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET.