Scandal's Columbus Short will not return for fourth season

Olivia Pope is bidding one Gladiator adieu.

Scandal's Columbus Short, who plays Harrison Wright on the ABC series, confirmed through his publicist that he will not return for the show's fourth season this fall, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Short, whose wife gained a temporary restraining order against him earlier this month, thanked the show's fans and "Shondaland," (show creator Shonda Rhimes), but he said the time had come for his character to "exit the canvas."

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The third season finale episode ended with Short's character held at gunpoint by shadowy operatives — no word yet on how his disappearance will be explained when season four returns to ABC this fall — or who will take over the dramatic directives. --Sarah Eberspacher