The Chicago Fire fandom is officially in meltdown mode.
After weeks of speculation and cryptic hints, it appears that Lieutenant Kelly Severide, played by fan-favorite Taylor Kinney, is being written out permanently—and fans are not taking it lightly.
According to inside sources, the character will not return for the remainder of Season 13, and there are currently no plans for a comeback in future seasons. What’s more shocking is that Severide’s exit might not even be given a proper on-screen farewell—just a quiet disappearance, wrapped in a vague storyline about “ongoing assignments” or “personal issues.”
“It feels like they’re erasing him,” said one fan on Reddit. “Like he never mattered.”
Social media has exploded with outrage. The hashtag #SaveSeveride has been trending, with fans demanding answers—and respect—for a character who’s been at the heart of Chicago Fire since day one. Some are even calling for a boycott of the show unless the writers reverse course or give Severide a send-off worthy of his legacy.
Rumors are swirling that the decision was not mutual, with some claiming that Taylor Kinney wanted to return, but was written out for “creative” reasons. Others believe the show is shifting focus to newer cast members in an attempt to “freshen things up,” but many longtime viewers aren’t buying it.
“If Severide’s gone, so am I,” tweeted a fan. “This isn’t Chicago Fire anymore.”
With backlash mounting and no official statement from NBC or the showrunners, the firestorm is only just beginning.
Will the producers backtrack before it’s too late? Or has Chicago Fire truly lost its spark?
