CeeLo Green has left “The Voice.”
The “Forget You” singer announced his decision to leave the NBC singing competition in an interview scheduled to air on Wednesday’s installment of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” saying he does not plan to return to the show “at all.”
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Green, however, did say that he will “continue my relationship” with NBC.
“I’m going to continue my relationship with NBC,” Green said. “I have a television show development deal with them as well and hopefully some other talk show opportunities for later in the year. But yeah, I’m going to miss ‘The Voice’ too. So I’m not coming back guys….”
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NBC’s alternative and late night programming president, Paul Teledgy, issued the following statement on the singer’s exit: “CeeLo Green has been an instrumental part of the success of ‘The Voice’ and we deeply appreciate all his contributions. We’re looking forward to working with him on other upcoming projects that will tap into both his musical and entertainment expertise.”
The decision to leave the show comes on the heels of legal woes for Green (born Thomas DeCarlo Callaway), who was charged late last year with furnishing a controlled substance, a felony charge that carries up to four years in state prison.
Green is accused of slipping a 33-year-old woman Ecstasy while the pair was dining at a downtown Los Angeles restaurant in mid-July.
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Green told DeGeneres that he didn’t want to “wear out my welcome” on the series, for which he has served as a coach.
“Yeah, I just want to … I don’t want to wear out my welcome there. You know what I’m saying,” Green said. “I have so many other things that I want to do. I haven’t released an album in four years. I’m almost done with my album…”
Green, in the meantime, will be touring with former Commodores frontman Lionel Richie.
The news arrives as “The Voice” sets to return to NBC for its sixth season on Monday at 8/7c — with Green and Christina Aguilera once again rotating out as Usher and Shakira return to take their places in the judges’ seats once again.
Watch Green announce his departure from “The Voice” below: