Days of Our Lives’ Elia Cantu Says a ‘Bittersweet’ Farewell: ‘Jada, You Will Always Be My Girl’
It looks like Jada’s time in Salem will soon be coming to an end. Elia Cantu said farewell to Days of Our Lives and Jada on an Instagram post. It’s not a total surprise as eagle-eyed fans spotted back in March that Cantu was taken out of the credits and speculated that she’d been taken off contract. And we have certainly been getting less Jada on our screens, as she and Shawn have been living together (temporarily) and growing closer mostly off-screen.
But now it looks like Cantu is officially exiting — which puts a bit of a damper on a Shawn and Jada pairing, not to mention her historic turn as Salem PD’s police commissioner! It’s a thankless job, but Jada proved more than up to the task, and even ended up as one the town’s more competent cops than we’ve seen in ages!
Cantu joined the show four years ago, debuting Jada in the summer of 2022 as the daughter of Marcus Hunter, one of Steve’s best pals back in the golden days. She nearly married Rafe, dealt with his evil double, helped clean up the mess her sister, Talia, caused on behalf of her beau, solved countless crimes and became the town’s first Black female police commissioner. Oh, and she and her best friend romanced the same man… with different personalities! In short, Cantu and Jada have been through the whole soap opera experience.
“As I say goodbye to Days of Our Lives,” Cantu shared on Instagram, “I’m excited and looking forward to the next chapter. Leaving Days is bittersweet, but I step away full of gratitude and joy for what’s ahead.”
“Jada Louise Hunter,” she continued, “It’s been an honor. She is bold, layered, and I’ll forever cherish bringing her to life. She remains a staple in Salem and I’ll carry everything she taught me as I go. Jada, you will always be my girl.”
“To the cast and crew,” she continued, “thank you for your hard work and long hours. What a journey it has been.”
And last, but certainly not least, she thanked the Days of Our Lives fans, writing, “You are incredibly supportive, caring and dedicated. I’m so grateful for each and everyone one of you. There’s more to come, and I hope you’ll come along with me for what’s next.”
Onscreen right now, Jada just found herself embroiled in Stephanie’s shooting, fretting over the possibility of arresting her best friend. Then there’s Sophia’s disappearance that’s still up in the air as her body hasn’t been found, not to mention all the other illegal goings on in town. With Days of Our Lives‘ shooting schedule, it’s not clear when Cantu may be taking a bow onscreen, but for now, we feel like she’s more needed than ever. But whatever comes next for Cantu, we wish her all the best!