Netflix announced one of their original flagship shows, Orange Is the New Black, is officially coming to an end next year.
Created by Jenji Kohan, the show is based on the real-life memoir of Piper Kerman. In 1998, Kerman was indicted on charges of money laundering and served 13 months in a federal correctional facility.
Taylor Schilling plays Piper in the series, with her last name changed to Chapman.
The series originally debuted in 2013 on Netflix, and immediately won praise for its diversity of women of color and queer women. It also introduced the world to LGBTI icons like Laverne Cox and Samira Wiley.
The show’s Twitter account posted a video of the cast announcing the end and thanking the fans.
Warning: This may make you cry. The Final Season, 2019. #OITNB pic.twitter.com/bUp2yY0aoK
— Orange Is the New Black (@OITNB) October 17, 2018
Thank you, thank you
‘I’m so grateful for the fun times, the knowledge, the friendships, the love, the family that we have created together,’ said Uzo Aduba, who plays Suzanne ‘Crazy Eyes’ Warren.
Selenis Levya, who plays Gloria Mendoza, added after seven seasons, she’s going to miss the fans the most.
Kate Mulgrew aka Galina ‘Red’ Reznikov called the show ‘one of the most groundbreaking, original and controversial series of this decade’.
Fans took to Twitter to express their sadness over the show ending, and gratitude for it existing.
#OITNB is comin to an end & I can’t handle it. It’s the first Netflix show I ever fell in love with. pic.twitter.com/iOud64RLre
— 💎 (@eb_so_major) October 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/_Aisaaax/status/1052667824638967814
I feel so sad. I have never connected to a tv show and it's characters like oitnb before. I'm going to mourn. pic.twitter.com/yFg6PVw1wu
— nic ʬ⁸⁴ (@preponxvause) October 17, 2018
so the most lesbianic show on television aka orange is the new black is really ending, huh. the question is: what am i gonna do with my life without all these beautiful ladies pic.twitter.com/FeePwcztMZ
— ellie (@odairannies) October 17, 2018
Natasha Lyonne, who plays Nicky, replied to a fan’s heartfelt message.
I love you guys 😰🧡🖤🧡🖤💔@OITNB 😫🖤🖤🖤♥️♥️🍊🍊 https://t.co/r2RljNUX6d
— natasha lyonne (@nlyonne) October 17, 2018
The seventh and final season of OITNB will air next year on Netflix.
More from Gay Star News
Orange is the New Black’s Lea DeLaria doesn’t want to be called a lesbian
Samira Wiley reveals a OITNB co-star accidentally outed her as gay
These two OITNB actresses are girlfriends IRL and congrats, ladies!