Columbus Short's fate on "Scandal" became fairly clear when the actor confirmed his exit from the show one week after the season three finale in April. His character was left staring down the barrel of a gun, and audiences will learn in the season four premiere that the shooter did not miss.
Short, who exited amid two criminal cases against him, still supports "Scandal" and will host a premiere party for the ABC series in Atlanta on Thursday night, according to TMZ. He will co-host the party with Jamaican pop star Kris Kelli at the Boogalou Restaurant & Lounge. Short also plans to release his first single off his self-titled album entitled "Gladiator," the same name used for fans of "Scandal."
Co-star Guillermo Diaz promises the show will give Short's character a proper send off in this season's premiere.
"You're going to see how all the characters deal with Harrison's death. Shonda [Rhimes] wrote such a special episode and it's a lovely tribute to Columbus and the character and a nice send-off," Diaz told The Hollywood Reporter.
Harrison's death on "Scandal" will have a great effect on all his co-workers at Pope and Associates, especially his boss Olivia (Kerry Washington) and closest colleague Abby (Darby Stanchfield).
"Olivia, really, but all the Gladiators are [impacted]," Rhimes told The Hollywood Reporter. "It will be very devastating for Abby in a surprising way. You'll see how she's coping with it in a very different way than you would expect."
Short holds no hard feelings toward the show, the cast or its creator Rhimes, who still remains his friend.
"Everything must come to an end and unfortunately, the time has come for Harrison Wright to exit the canvas," the actor said in a statement at the time of his departure. "I wish nothing but the best for Shonda, Kerry and the rest of the cast, who have become like a second family to me in such a short amount of time. For this, I will forever be grateful."
In the statement, he also thanked the fans (a.k.a. Gladiators) for their support, and ABC and Shondaland (Rhimes' production company) for trusting him with the Harrison role for three seasons.
Short plans to file an appeal in his domestic violence case involving his estranged wife Tanee McCall. He insists he never hurt his wife and claims "she's just upset, a woman scorned," according to the New York Daily News. He's had two prior arrests for domestic abuse.
Short also faces felony battery charges for seriously injuring a man at a West Hollywood restaurant in March.
"Scandal" premieres tonight, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. on ABC.
