UPDATE, 5:25 p.m.: "Parks and Recreation" executive producer Mike Schur has spoken out about Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones' upcoming departure from the series, saying that "it felt like the natural time" to move their characters to the next phase."
He added that the show has "a great Pawnee send-off in the works for them."
Read Schur's full statement below.
"The news about Rob and Rashida is true — they will be leaving the show after the 13th episode of the upcoming season six. We've been working on their storyline (on and off) for four seasons now, and heading into this year, with the two of them contemplating parenthood, it felt like a natural time to move them into the next phase."
"We absolutely love both Rashida and Rob, and will be sad to see them go. Rashida was one of the very first people we knew we wanted in the cast, and as important as Ann is to Leslie (and vice-versa), she'll certainly never be far from Pawnee. Rob we initially thought we could only have for six or eight episodes, and we couldn't be happier that he will have stuck around for 75."
"They are wonderful, funny, committed actors, they've been a huge part of the Parks and Rec family, and we think we have a great Pawnee send-off in the works for them."
Previously…
Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones will depart NBC's "Parks and Recreation" during its upcoming season, an individual familiar with the departures told TheWrap on Wednesday.
The pair will exit on the 13th episode of the show's sixth season, which premieres Sept. 26 with an hour-long episode set in London.
See video: Patton Oswalt Pitches Hilarious 'Star Wars VII' Plot in 'Parks and Recreation' Outtake
"The Office" alum Jones has played Ann Perkins on the series since its first season, while Lowe came aboard "Parks and Recreation" as Chris Traeger for its second season.
The end of "Parks and Rec's" fifth season found on-again, off-again couple Chris and Ann reuniting and contemplating having a child together.
Buzzfeed first reported on Lowe and Jones' departures.
