Yoshi Barrigas Shares a Heartfelt Message as He Exits THE CHOSEN
By Movieguide® Contributor
Yoshi Barrigas shared his gratitude for Dallas Jenkins and fans of THE CHOSEN after the release of the show to streaming revealed he had not reprised his role as Phillip.
“Hello. It is true. For professional and personal reasons I will no longer be a part of THE CHOSEN,” Barrigas wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post, per Collider. “First and foremost I want to thank you, the fans. Our connection and your constant showering of love and support has seeded me with a warmth that will forever nourish me.”
“Meeting you out in the world and hearing how the show had personally enriched your lives continues to be the connective tissue between me and the good folk of this world,” he continued. “You inspire me to continue to die to self and discover The Way. I hope you continue to follow my journey. I have a lot more to share with you.”
Barrigas began his portrayal of Phillip in episode two of Season 2 when he was introduced to Jesus and began following him as one of the disciples. Though Barrigas had acted in small roles in the past, his position on THE CHOSEN was his first mainstay position on a show – an opportunity he is extremely thankful for.
“I could not have gotten to where I am now without you, and without THE CHOSEN. I want to thank Dallas and Amanda [Jenkins] for changing my life and entrusting me in the role of Phillip,” Barrigas said. “I physically see and feel the impact Dallas’s baby has had on humanity when you all approach me and share your stories. It is so positively overwhelming.”
“I learned how a set operates. I learned the infinite depths of my craft and the many ways to approach it. And most importantly, the show operated as a vessel for God to demand that I begin to know Him. To praise Him. To enjoy Him! My studies of scripture have and continue to chip away at all my excess marble,” he continued.
Movieguide® previously spoke to a pastor who helped Barrigas better understand his character and the Gospel:
“I found out — once we got back to Austin and connected — he told me that he was an actor, and he played one of the disciples on this show called THE CHOSEN,” Van Court explained. The actor was Yoshi Barrigas who plays Phillip. “I had never watched the show. I’d heard a little bit about it, but I’ve never seen it.”
“I said, how, you know, coincidental that you play a disciple of Jesus. I am a disciple of Jesus,” he said of their conversation…
“He played the apostle Philip, and as he received the script for Season 3, he was confused about what was going on with his character. [He] began running some things by me, and I had some insights for him, just knowing scripture,” Van Court said.
“Finally, I want to thank the incredible crew,” Barrigas concluded. “It was an absolute honor to be a part of your family. I learned so much from watching your passionate work, and was spoiled by the kindness you managed to radiate whilst focused on the task at hand.”
With Barrigas’ departure, Reza Diako has stepped into the role. Diako has previously appeared in THE BEEKEEPER, THE DIPLOMAT and LONDON CLASS.
Season 4 of THE CHOSEN is now available for streaming with new episodes releasing on Thursdays and Sundays through the end of June.
Movieguide® previously reported on Season 4:
The excitement for Season 4 of THE CHOSEN was undeniable earlier this week as the show’s app jumped to the No. 1 spot on the Apple TV App Store and the second spot on the App Store’s free app chart.
The incredible showing came as the first episode of Season 4 released to streaming. THE CHOSEN later revealed that in the first three days after the episode’s release, it had been streamed 3.5 million times, reaching roughly 4.2 million viewers in the U.S. – a near 100% growth in reach from the release of Season 3.
“The numbers are great, but what speaks to us far more are the comments and emotional response from the viewers,” said Dallas Jenkins, the show’s creator. “The crying emojis in the chat and the expressions of how much the ending impacted them were overwhelming.”
This emotional response was felt during the season’s theatrical release as well, with many fans warning others to prepare themselves for many highs and lows.
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