The Real Reason Why Benny Left Bull: Unpacking Freddy Rodriguez's Shocking Exit

The sudden departure of Benny Colón, the charismatic and sharp-witted former prosecutor on the CBS drama Bull, remains one of the show's most controversial and talked-about moments since it aired its final season. As of today, December 12, 2025, fans still search for the definitive answer to why the character, played by actor Freddy Rodriguez, vanished between seasons, leaving a gaping hole in the Trial Analysis Corporation (TAC) team. The in-universe explanation offered by the show was surprisingly brief, but the true reason behind the exit is a classic case of behind-the-scenes drama overtaking the fictional narrative.

The truth is that Benny Colón did not simply choose to leave his successful career with Dr. Jason Bull; rather, the actor, Freddy Rodriguez, was abruptly fired following a high-profile workplace investigation by CBS Studios. This shocking development, which also saw the departure of the showrunner, set the stage for a dramatically different Season 6 and permanently altered the course of the long-running procedural drama.

Freddy Rodriguez: A Biographical Profile and Career Overview

Freddy Rodriguez, the actor who brought Benny Colón to life for five seasons, is a veteran performer with a distinctive career spanning film and television. His sudden exit from Bull was a major pivot point in his professional life, making his background essential to understanding the gravity of the situation.

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• Full Name: Freddy Rodriguez
• Date of Birth: January 17, 1975
• Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Puerto Rican
• Notable Roles (Pre-Bull):
  • Federico "Rico" Diaz in the critically acclaimed HBO series Six Feet Under (2001–2005)
  • Wiggum in the film Planet Terror (2007)
  • Gio in the comedy series Ugly Betty (2007–2008)
  • Dr. Michael Ragosa in the medical drama The Night Shift (2014–2015)
• Role on Bull: Benny Colón, the Trial Analysis Corporation's (TAC) in-house counsel and Dr. Bull's former brother-in-law.
• Years on Bull: 2016–2021 (Seasons 1–5)
• Awards/Nominations: Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Six Feet Under.

Rodriguez’s portrayal of Benny Colón was central to the show's dynamic, providing the legal backbone to Dr. Bull's psychological strategies. His character’s departure was not a planned creative shift but a forced termination, which is why the on-screen explanation felt so sudden and underdeveloped.

The In-Universe Explanation: How Bull Wrote Out Benny Colón

For fans who tuned into the Season 6 premiere of Bull, the absence of Benny Colón was immediately noticeable. The character, who had been a foundational member of the TAC team since the series pilot, was written off with a surprisingly brief and almost anticlimactic explanation. The writers had the difficult task of quickly explaining a major character’s disappearance without any lead-up in the previous season’s finale.

Benny’s Final Storyline: The District Attorney Campaign

The primary explanation given for Benny’s exit was his decision to pursue a career in politics. In the narrative, Benny Colón decided to step away from the Trial Analysis Corporation to run for District Attorney. This storyline provided a plausible, albeit sudden, reason for a former prosecutor to leave the world of jury consulting.

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The show also briefly referenced another potential reason for his absence in later episodes, suggesting that he had found love in a different country, a detail that further distanced the character from the main ensemble. However, the DA campaign was the main plot device used to transition the team into a new dynamic. The season premiere of Season 6 had to address this major cast change quickly, which is why the explanation felt rushed to many viewers.

This quick wrap-up contrasts sharply with the show’s previous character developments, leading many to suspect that the real reason for the Benny Colón departure was external to the show's creative process. The lack of a proper send-off episode or even a final appearance for the actor confirmed the abrupt nature of the exit.

The Shocking Truth: Misconduct Allegations and Workplace Investigation

The real reason behind Freddy Rodriguez’s departure from Bull is one of the most significant controversies in the show’s history, even overshadowing previous issues involving the series’ star, Michael Weatherly. The actor was officially let go by CBS Studios following the results of a comprehensive workplace investigation.

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The CBS Studios Investigation

In May 2021, just days after the Season 5 finale aired, news broke that CBS Studios had launched an investigation into the production of Bull. This investigation focused on allegations of misconduct on set. The specifics of the allegations against Rodriguez were not publicly disclosed by the studio, but they were serious enough to warrant his immediate termination.

The investigation concluded that Freddy Rodriguez would not be returning for Season 6. The actor’s contract was terminated, effectively firing him from the series. This decision was a clear signal from the network that they were taking the allegations of workplace misconduct seriously, leading to the immediate removal of a central cast member.

The Showrunner’s Exit: A Coordinated Departure

Adding to the dramatic shake-up, the investigation also led to the firing of the showrunner, Glenn Gordon Caron. Caron's exit was part of the same fallout, indicating that the workplace environment issues extended beyond a single cast member and involved the show’s leadership. This coordinated departure of both a star actor and the showrunner underscored the severity of the findings from the CBS Studios probe. The network decided to clean house to address the toxic environment allegations, making the Freddy Rodriguez firing part of a larger overhaul.

The Impact of the Controversy on Bull Season 6 and Beyond

The sudden and controversial exit of Freddy Rodriguez had a profound impact on the creative direction and stability of Bull, particularly as it headed into its sixth season. The character of Benny Colón was a legal powerhouse and a key emotional anchor for Dr. Bull, and his absence created a significant void in the show's structure.

Creative and Casting Challenges

The writers were forced to quickly introduce new characters and shift existing dynamics to compensate for the loss of their lead counsel. This included the introduction of a new lawyer to the TAC team. The focus shifted, and the show struggled to regain the critical balance that Benny's presence provided. The Bull TV show controversy became a narrative challenge that the creative team had to manage throughout the final two seasons.

The Final Seasons and Cancellation

The series ultimately concluded after Season 6, with the final episode airing in May 2022. While the show had already dealt with other controversies, the sudden termination of Freddy Rodriguez and Glenn Gordon Caron was a major blow to its stability and public image. The decision to conclude the series was likely influenced by a combination of factors, including declining ratings, the loss of key talent, and the lingering shadow of the misconduct allegations. The abruptness of Benny’s exit served as a constant reminder of the behind-the-scenes turmoil that plagued the final years of the show.

In summary, while the fictional world of Bull explained Benny Colón's departure as a move to run for District Attorney, the real-world reason is far more dramatic: Freddy Rodriguez was fired following a workplace investigation into misconduct. This event stands as a stark example of how off-screen issues can suddenly and irrevocably alter the course of a major television production.

Topical Authority Entities: Trial Analysis Corporation (TAC), Dr. Jason Bull, Benny Colón, Freddy Rodriguez, CBS Studios, Glenn Gordon Caron, Michael Weatherly, District Attorney, Six Feet Under, Workplace Investigation, Misconduct Allegations, Legal Drama, Procedural Drama, Jury Consulting, Season 5 finale, Season 6 premiere, Character Departure, Contract Termination, Toxic Environment, TV Industry Controversy, Puerto Rican Actor.