Matlock found a way to subtly throw shade at David Del Rio‘s exit as Billy after offscreen allegations of sexual assault.
The CBS show returned on Thursday, February 26, with Sarah (Leah Lewis) and Matty (Kathy Bates) meeting with HR representative Gwen Easton (Sarah Wright-Olsen), who asked about Billy’s absence.
“Out sick. Very, very sick. Vomiting,” Sarah said, to which Gwen joked, “Yay, so no need for him to return! Job eliminated. …. Kidding again! It was nice to meet you two.”
Gwen also floated the idea of one of the three people working for Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) being on the chopping block. “Could she make do with two people if one of you takes the generous severance package being offered?” she asked.
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Del Rio, 38, has been absent from the show since news broke in October 2025 about an alleged incident involving him and his then-costar Lewis, which took place one month prior. Del Rio was “fired and escorted off the lot the same day the alleged assault was reported,” according to reports released at the time.
Lewis, 29, broke her silence at the time by sharing a photo with her mother from set.
“Mom is here, we’re moving forward in love and strength. I’m in good hands,” she wrote via Instagram in October. “Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care. Truly, we’re moving forward in strength. Key word, strength. Please, let that be the take away.”
David’s wife, meanwhile, posted Instagram Stories calling Lewis a “disturbing human being” before deleting them hours later.
Before the scandal, Del Rio spoke to Us Weekly in May 2025 about how the show would be committing to the paternity twist involving his character, Billy. “I’m really excited to see how Billy handles the work balance with the personal balance of it all,” he shared before the season 2 premiere. (His character was written off in the midseason finale when Billy found out his girlfriend miscarried.)
Lewis also weighed in on what was awaiting Sarah in season 2 during the joint interview.
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“I remember reading the finale and hoping at the end that Sarah was going to get away scot free with this wonderful victory. Of course the thing happens with Simone and she might need to take accountability,” Lewis hinted. “To be honest, this is where we really get to see if Sarah can step up to the plate for the thing that she has been begging for, asking for and working so hard for. You want to get treated like a big dog. We’ll start acting like a big dog. I feel like this season we’ll definitely probably get to see her mature a bit more on that aspect. Her professional win is not over yet.”
While David has yet to address his firing, Us confirmed in December 2025 that CBS reopened its investigation into the incident.
“David has provided evidence, including text messages between David and Leah and names of witnesses who are willing to talk,” a source exclusively told Us earlier this month. “In light of the evidence, the investigation was reopened.”
The insider claimed Del Rio “has evidence and witnesses that he believes could disprove Leah’s allegation,” adding, “David’s team believes he was fired without appropriate due process or a proper investigation.”
The network’s supplemental investigation concluded earlier this month with CBS standing by their original decision to dismiss Del Rio from the show.
Matlock airs on CBS Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.
