Elia Cantu has confirmed her departure from NBC’s Days of Our Lives. She has played Detective Jada Hunter on the soap opera since July 2022.
The actress announced the news on Instagram on June 10, posting a farewell message alongside a video of herself taking a theatrical bow. Per Soap Opera Digest, she captioned the clip “Godspeed ❤️.”
What did Elia Cantu say about leaving?
In her statement, Cantu addressed her exit and what lies ahead. Per her Instagram post, as reported by TVLine, “As I say goodbye to Days of Our Lives, I’m excited and looking forward to the next chapter. Leaving DAYS is bittersweet, but I step away full of gratitude and joy for what’s ahead.”
She also paid tribute to the character. Per the post: “She is bold, layered, and I’ll forever cherish bringing her to life. She remains a staple in Salem and I’ll carry everything she taught me as I go. Jada, you will always be my girl.”
Cantu closed with words for her colleagues and viewers. “To the cast and crew — Thank you for your hard work and long hours. What a journey it has been. To the DAYS fans — Thank you. You are incredibly supportive, caring, and dedicated. I’m so grateful for each and every one of you. There’s more to come, and I hope you’ll come along with me for what’s next.”
What led to Cantu’s exit?
Per Soap Opera Digest, Cantu and co-star Galen Gering, who plays Rafe Hernandez, were moved from contract to recurring status earlier this year. At the time, a DAYS rep told the outlet, “We never comment on actor contract status but, rest assured, Rafe and Jada are still in Salem.”
Who is Jada Hunter on ‘Days of Our Lives’?
Per TVLine, Jada is the daughter of Dr. Marcus Hunter, who was played by the late Richard Biggs from 1987 to 1992. The show had also been building an on-again, off-again romance between Jada and Shawn Brady, played by Brandon Beemer, in recent months. No details on how the character will be written off have been announced.
Because Days of Our Lives tapes nearly a year in advance, per Soap Opera Digest, Jada will likely remain on screen well into spring 2027.
Days of Our Lives streams on Peacock.
Leave a Reply