Harry Shum Jr. says he does not know whether Benson Kwan is gone for good after Grey's Anatomy fired the character in the penultimate episode of season 22. Speaking at the Asian American Foundation's 2026 Heritage Month Awards Dinner on May 14, Shum said he was “just as much in the dark as audiences” about what comes next for the doctor.

The actor, who joined the ABC series as an intern in season 19, said he sees Kwan's story as more than a simple mistake-and-punishment arc. “I think it's good to see the doctors when they do make a mistake, but also with good intentions,” he said, adding, “It wasn't just because he was a bumbling mess.” Shum said Kwan's actions were “very motivated in making sure that someone got to be able to choose life over death.”

That uncertainty lands after a sharp turn on the show. Dr. Richard Webber fired Kwan off-screen after discovering that he had secretly administered an experimental hydrogel to patient Quinn Durston, a treatment described as FDA-denied for her liver cancer. The move also put Dr. Miranda Bailey in the crosshairs. Bailey took the blame for Kwan's decision, was reported to the Institutional Review Board by Dr. Dani Spencer and was benched from surgery until further notice.

The show's own dialogue left little room for ambiguity about who was responsible. Webber told Bailey, “I know it was you who injected the hydrogel and not her,” then pressed her to explain “everything that happened, starting from the beginning.” When Bailey told him, “Kwan is still learning, so don't go too hard on him while I'm out,” Webber answered, “Well, that won't be a problem. He's fired.”

For now, Kwan's future remains unresolved, and Shum said the off-screen uncertainty is part of the appeal. “But to me, it's a hope of: Do audiences want to see him go or do they want to see him go back to the hospital?” he said. With season 22 over and season 23 ahead, the show has left both the character and the viewers waiting for the same answer.