Ngatikaura told InTouch in October 2026 that he un-politely declined the production's offer to come back. His exit follows a tumultuous period for the cast, as high-profile figures including Taylor Frankie Paul and Mikayla Matthews also confirmed their departures. For Ngatikaura, the primary motivation for leaving was the toll the series took on his family; he shares three children with his ex-wife, Jessi Draper. He noted that having his life blown up on national television simply was not worth the cost.
His decision contradicts earlier speculation from his ex-wife, who implied that both Ngatikaura and castmate Dakota Mortensen were let go by the network. The show's previous seasons were defined by the breakdown of his marriage to Draper, who publicly alleged that she suffered from his emotional abuse for years. Ngatikaura has since acknowledged his past behavior, attributing it to being unhealed and claiming he is currently engaged in therapy to address his actions. As the series prepares to shift its focus toward an Orange County spin-off, the remaining original lineup continues to fracture, with stars like Whitney Leavitt also stepping away after years of filming.



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