Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones Leaving Parks and Recreation

Update added to the end of this story...

Sad times are coming to Pawnee, as two Parks and Recreation regulars, Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones, will be exiting the series in Season 6. Buzzfeed reported the news.

Fortunately, it will not be an abrupt departure, as Lowe and Jones will be back this fall and aren't expected to leave until the 13th episode of Season 6, likely airing in February. While details have not been given about what will cause Chris Traeger and Ann Perkins to leave, it's not difficult to imagine some possibilities, given their recent storyline in which they're trying to have a baby together - while rekindling their old romance.

It's also possible both will be too intimidated by the newly-buff Andy and feel they just need to get away from all of that Bert Macklin manliness.

UPDATE: Parks and Recreation co-creator Michael Schur has released the following statement:

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.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com