Quinta Brunson Says an “Abbott Elementary” Fan Stopped Her at Airport to Demand Janine and Gregory Get Back Together

Brenton BlanchetTue, April 21, 2026 at 4:22 PM UTC

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Quinta Brunson; Tyler James Williams and Brunson in 'Abbott Elementary'Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty; Disney/Gilles Mingasson -

Quinta Brunson had a fan approach her about Abbott Elementary's latest twist in the airport

The series creator revealed on The Tonight Show that a fan told her she wasn't thrilled about the latest development in Janine and Gregory's relationship

"It's the first time people have been very not happy with me in front of my face," she said

Quinta Brunson is aware that some fans just "aren't happy" about the latest Abbott Elementary relationship twist.

The series creator and star, 36, discussed the sitcom's latest shake-up while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, April 20. Fallon, 51, emphasized that fans are "not happy that Janine and Gregory broke up," referring to the characters played by Brunson and costar Tyler James Williams.

"It's the first time people have been very not-happy with me in front of my face," Brunson said. "I love for people to react. We do this so people can engage with our work."

One fan, Brunson then explained, took things to another level while she was traveling. "I was leaving the airport and a woman stopped me," she said. "And she was like, 'Are you Quinta?' I was like, 'I am, yeah.' She was like, 'OK, you need to get Janine and Gregory back together.'"

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Brunson responded with an "OK," before the woman encouraged her to enjoy her stay. "Have fun in New York, but do what you gotta do," Brunson recalled of the fan's request.

"It's been the first time its been right at my face," she added of the fan feedback. "But I appreciate that."

The Wednesday, April 8 episode of Abbott found Gregory and Janine at odds while planning their first trip as a couple. Janine suggested they call off their relationship, which stunned them both into silence. The aftermath of their conversation played out in the show's Wednesday, April 15 episode.

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"You can see that [Janine] surprised herself. I’m not going to say whether she means it or not, but I think she surprised herself in saying it and wonders if she means it," Brunson told The Hollywood Reporter.

"But when she doesn’t hear anything from Gregory, it makes her feel like, 'Whoa, OK.' I think she was sitting there waiting for a protest but didn’t get one, which reinforced the fear that maybe it’s true. Maybe we shouldn’t [be together]."

Brunson previously told PEOPLE in 2025 she had no qualms about possibly breaking up the fan-favorite couple. "I think there's nothing wrong with crushing [fans]. It doesn't technically deter me," she said, adding that she wants "everyone to have a good time here."

"It's really kind of amazing how invested they get," she added of the fanfare over the onscreen couple. "It’s always what you want. It's what you're writing for and writing toward. I love that they love Janine and Gregory so much. I love that they love Ava and Shawn. These things are so rewarding. That’s what you want."

Elsewhere during her discussion with Fallon, Brunson teased the season 5 finale, which she said incorporates a conference "field trip" to Miami just for the teachers.

"It's gonna be fun," she said. "And also in this we have a two-part finale. We have one of my favorite guest stars. I love the Eagles. It's another Eagle, I'm sorry. But another Eagle will be joining us. I'm not gonna stop until I have the whole entire team."

The finale will also feature "a lot of real-life stuff, taken from the headlines," Brunson teased.

Abbott Elementary's season 5 finale airs on Wednesday, April 22 at 8 p.m. on ABC and streams on Hulu.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”