When Topher Grace left 'That '70s Show' before the series ended, fans were practically distraught. They not only felt betrayed by Eric Forman but also wondered whether there were things happening behind the scenes that caused him to leave.
And though plenty of fans have speculated that Grace was feuding with his co-stars, it turns out, that may not have been the issue after all.
There were some things fans didn't know about while 'That '70s Show' was filming. For one, Laura Prepon was dating a cast member behind the scenes. And fans know now that Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher didn't even like each other back then, despite Ashton being Mila's first kiss.
Fans have also learned that not every cast member got along with everyone else. For example, Lisa Robin Kelly's substance abuse issues likely caused issues on set. But did the cast really feud with Topher, and is that why he left the show?
All signs point to no. In fact, it was Topher's personal decision to leave 'That '70s Show,' and Eric Forman did return at the end of the series to wrap up his storyline.
But as to the reasoning behind his quitting the sitcom, Topher later explained to Indie Wire that he just wanted a different career path. He related, "I looked around at my life and I had just met the woman who is now my wife. I was feeling really confident and good, and it occurred to me that I was really lucky to have been on a sitcom for a lot of years. I realized then that I didn’t really need a lot more money."
He admitted that it sounded cocky, noted Indie Wire, but the truth was that Topher Grace didn't have to take on certain roles (or stay in sitcoms) to have the life he wanted. Right after leaving 'That '70s Show,' Grace had a role in a Spiderman film, but he explained that was a one-off.
He really wanted to pursue indie films, Topher explained, joining up with "auteurs" rather than big-box studios. Further, Hollywood Reporter quoted him as saying, "I don't really care what it does to my career. I love it."
At the same time, Topher also said that he wouldn't say no to a 'That '70s Show' reboot. He says he's still "great friends" with his castmates and would love to get together; further proof there was no feud.
Though some might say Topher's career took a nosedive following 'That '70s Show,' he clearly disagrees. Besides, he may have fallen off fans' radars, but at least he's not sitting in jail with a permanent stain on both his record and his public persona.