“Chicago Fire,” the first in NBC’s “One Chicago” franchise, has been beloved by audiences since its premiere in 2012. The series follows the lives of the firefighters, paramedics, and other staff of the fictional Firehouse 51 in — you guessed it — Chicago.
Like any drama centered in a workplace, the professional and personal lives of the characters are often at odds, and interpersonal conflict can make an already stressful job even more complicated. The talented cast of “Chicago Fire” is what really brings the energy to the show, though. Starring the likes of Jesse Spencer, Eamonn Walker, Christian Stolte, and Taylor Kinney, “Chicago Fire” is definitely a can’t-miss for those who love some classic workplace drama that’s full of emotional moments and excitement.
It turns out there’s been some real-life drama for some of the show’s stars, too. Kinney, who portrayed Lieutenant Kelly Severide before parting ways with the show in early 2023, has had his fair share of public troubles — including a 2002 arrest. What, though, do Kinney’s legal troubles exactly entail?
Taylor Kinney was arrested pre-fame
Taylor Kinney has been acting since 2006 when he first starred in the campy primetime soap opera “Fashion House.” He appeared in many more successful shows before joining “Chicago Fire,” including “CSI: NY,” “Shameless,” and “The Vampire Diaries.” However, many will know him best as the former fiance of Lady Gaga. The two met while shooting the music video for her hit song “You and I,” and were an item from 2011 through 2016. Dating one of the biggest pop stars in the world will certainly put you under the spotlight, and tabloids were keen to drudge up any dirt they could on Kinney.
Unfortunately for the actor, those tabloids did not come up empty-handed. According to records obtained by Radar Online, Kinney was arrested in 2002 in Virginia for public intoxication. He was only 21 years old at the time, and he’s avoided trouble with the law since then. There aren’t many details out there about his arrest either, which suggests that his punishment probably didn’t amount to anything more than a slap on the wrist.
A youthful arrest for heavy drinking is far from the worst crime a man can commit, and we’re glad to know Kinney’s legal record hasn’t stopped him from achieving success as an actor.
Taylor Kinney exited Chicago Fire under mysterious circumstances
Taylor Kinney doesn’t appear to have had any more troubles with the law since his 2002 arrest. However, some “Chicago Fire” fans are probably wondering about the circumstances led that to his exit from the series earlier this year. Unfortunately, the nature of his exit has mostly been shrouded in mystery, but it’s very noticeable considering that he’s arguably a poster child for the “One Chicago” franchise.
Kinney, who was a major part of “Chicago Fire” since its inception, hasn’t been part of the Dick Wolf-created drama since Season 11’s “Run Like Hell” episode, which originally aired on February 22, 2023. According to Variety, the actor stepped away from the show to deal with a personal matter, and it’s currently unknown when — or if — he’ll return to the NBC drama. Since that update, no more information about his exit has been made available to the public.
Of course, there’s nothing about Kinney’s reason for stepping away from “Chicago Fire” to suggest that he’s dealing with more legal issues. As it stands, though, there’s no concrete information about the situation, either. Furthermore, the actor has kept a low profile since parting ways with the show, distancing himself from his social media accounts and notable public appearances.
