Regé-Jean Page Spotted For The First Time Since Since Bombshell ‘Bridgerton’ Exit Announcement

Regé-Jean Page was spotted in public just shortly after it was announced that he will not be returning for the second season of Netflix’s hit period drama "Bridgerton."

On Friday, the 31-year-old British actor was photographed in North Hollywood, California. In photos published by E! News, Page was wearing a white KN95 mask, a fitted white T-shirt that showed off his biceps, black pants, black sneakers and a black sweatshirt tied around his waist.

Page was also spotted holding a suitcase and heading toward a vehicle waiting for him.

The sighting came just hours after Netflix and Shondaland confirmed that he will not reprise his fan-favorite role, Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, in "Bridgerton" Season 2. The announcement was made via a notice from Lady Whistledown posted on "Bridgerton's" Instagram page.

"While all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton's quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings," the statement read. "We'll miss Simon's presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family."

Page replied to the post on Instagram, expressing his gratitude to everyone involved. He said he considers his time on the show a "pleasure and privilege."

"It’s been an absolute pleasure and a privilege! Joining this family - the connection on and off screen, with our cast, our crew, all the incredible fans, has been like nothing I could have ever imagined - the love is real and will just keep growing," he wrote.

Many were heartbroken over Page's departure from "Bridgerton," including singer and apparent Duke of Hastings fan Dionne Warwick.

"No, @regejean! You CANNOT leave me like that. I WILL NOT have it! @bridgerton!!!!!!" the Grammy winner tweeted after the announcement of his exit.

"I demand a retraction, @bridgerton!!!! I need to hear this news straight from @regejean if this is true," she added.

However, fans of the Julia Quinn books the series is based on were not surprised to hear about the news, considering each book focuses on a Bridgerton family member. Page was also aware of the future of his character, saying in a recent interview that Simon and Daphne's (Phoebe Dynevor) love story was a "one-season arc" with a beginning, middle and end.

“[I thought] ‘That’s interesting,’ because then it felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on,” he told Variety.

Page won outstanding actor in a drama series for his role in "Bridgerton" at the NAACP Image Awards last month.