"What happened to Toni on Girlfriends? Character's unanticipated exit explored

Fans of the hit show Girlfriends were left shocked and disappointed when Antoinette 'Toni' Marie Childs-Garrett, one of the core characters, made an unexpected exit after season six.

Portrayed by Jill Marie Jones, Toni's departure left a significant void in the series, which ran for eight seasons. Toni's character, known for her wit, confidence, and complicated relationships, was a staple of the show, making her exit a pivotal moment in the series.

In the storyline, Toni's character left to move to New York City with her partner after a contentious custody battle over their child. This plot twist allowed the character a somewhat graceful exit but left many viewers craving more of Toni's dynamic presence.

However, the real reason behind her departure was tied to Jill Marie Jones' decision not to renew her contract. Jones had completed her six-season contract and felt it was time to explore other opportunities, particularly in film.

---

Why did Toni from Girlfriends leave?

Toni exited Girlfriends post the sixth season while two more seasons remained before the show came to an end. As Toni's story develops throughout the show we witness her getting back together with her spouse following a very intense legal process concerning their child's custody.

However, Jill Marie Jones opted not to continue working and had a better idea for herself than just renewing another contract. She explained during an interview with Essence:

“I left because I wanted to do movies…” After completing my sixth-season contract; people also forget that like networks have an option not renewing your contract... In fact I can decide if I want or don’t want comeback.” The decision stemmed from wanting new roles and moving up professionally without capital being involved."

---

What was Girlfriends about?

Girlfriends aired between 2000 and 2008 initially on UPN, shifting to The CW in 2006. It featured four African-American women living in L.A.- Joan, Maya, Lynn, and Toni as they go through the complexities of building friendships, romantic relationships as well as self-growth.

The show was known for its portrayal of strong female friendships and for addressing social issues such as race, gender, and career obstacles.

One of the key characters in Girlfriends was Toni Childs-Garrett portrayed by Jill Marie Jones. She is a real estate agent who is famous for her sharp tongue, and high standards together with her complicated relationship with Joan Davis who is her best friend.

The character Toni was often used as an outlet for comic relief or dramatic tension making her an important component in the dynamic of the show.

---

More about Jill Marie Jones

Jill Marie Jones is a former professional dancer and cheerleader, born on January 4th, 1975. Before joining the show as a cast member she danced and cheered professionally including being associated with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders & Dallas Mavericks Dancers. Her role as Toni Childs-Garrett on Girlfriends elevated her to stardom making her a household name.

Jones left the show Girlfriends and then took on various characters in movies and TV shows. She has been featured in films such as The Perfect Holiday and 35 and Ticking.

Additionally, from 2013 to 2015 she played Cynthia Irving in the Fox supernatural series Sleepy Hollow and Amanda Fisher in the Starz horror-comedy series called Ash vs Evil Dead.

---

Even though fans did not anticipate Jones’ exit from the show, it provided her with an opportunity to experiment with new creative outlets and broaden her range as an actor.