▁the ▁addition ▁of ▁Cap sh aw ▁to ▁the ▁cast ▁as ▁an ▁element ▁of ▁the ▁season ▁of ▁which ▁she ▁was ▁most ▁proud . ▁Initial ▁media ▁reaction ▁to ▁the ▁character ▁was ▁positive . ▁Matt ▁Mit ov ich ▁of ▁TV ▁Guide ▁described ▁her ▁as ▁a ▁" fan ▁favorite ", ▁and ▁Chris ▁Mon f ette ▁for ▁I GN ▁pra ised ▁the ▁addition ▁of ▁" f resh , ▁new ▁characters ", ▁such ▁as ▁Rob b ins ▁over ▁the ▁course ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁ ▁Al ong ▁with ▁Sarah ▁D rew , ▁Cap sh aw ▁was ▁fired ▁in ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁for ▁" cre ative " ▁reasons ▁regarding ▁cast ▁changes ▁ 1 0 ▁seasons ▁into ▁playing ▁the ▁character . ▁Sh onda ▁Rh imes ▁all ud ed ▁to ▁the ▁impact ▁Cap sh aw ' s ▁character ▁had ▁representing ▁the ▁L GB T Q ▁community . ▁She ▁pra ised ▁both ▁actress es ▁for ▁" br ing ing ▁these ▁characters ▁to ▁life ▁with ▁such ▁v ibr ant ▁performance ▁and ▁for ▁insp iring ▁women ▁around ▁the ▁glo be ". ▁The ▁decision ▁was ▁controvers ial , ▁spark ing ▁back l ash ▁from ▁fans ▁and ▁further ▁spec ulation ▁about ▁the ▁connection ▁of ▁their ▁firing ▁with ▁Ellen ▁Pom pe o ' s ▁new ▁$ 2 0 ▁million ▁contract ▁a ▁year ▁for ▁the ▁show . ▁Show runner ▁Krist a ▁Vern off ▁stated , ▁however , ▁that ▁the ▁decision ▁was ▁purely ▁cre ative , ▁not ▁budget ary . ▁Cap sh aw ▁made ▁a ▁statement , ▁explaining ▁the ▁significance ▁Rob b ins ▁had ▁on ▁fans :