Natasha Rothwell Responds to How to Die Alone Cancellation: “Shocked – Heartbroken and Honestly Baffled”

Natasha Rothwell Responds to How to Die Alone Cancellation: “Shocked, Heartbroken, and Honestly, Baffled”

Creator and star Natasha Rothwell has expressed her disappointment and surprise after Hulu canceled her workplace comedy How to Die Alone after just one season.

In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, Rothwell shared her emotions about the decision, describing herself as “shocked, heartbroken, and frankly, baffled” that Onyx, the Disney-owned content brand behind the series, chose not to renew it for a second season.

“This is a tough reality to accept because the show is an undeniable critical, creative, and award-winning success,” Rothwell said, referencing the comedy’s recognition, including Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series at the Independent Spirit Awards and the Producer Award at the Critics Choice Awards.

Despite the cancellation, Rothwell remains committed to the show’s future. “This show took me eight years to bring to life, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in that time, it’s resilience,” she said. “I’m not giving up. My team and I are determined to find How to Die Alone a new home because stories like this matter.”

She continued by stressing the importance of diverse representation in television. “Now more than ever, television that amplifies previously unheard voices and prioritizes casting that reflects the diversity of the world is essential,” she added. “Representation isn’t just about visibility — it’s about ensuring that our stories, our existence, and our cultural contributions are not erased.”

The debut season, consisting of eight episodes, followed Rothwell’s character Mel, an employee at JFK airport who struggles with a fear of living her life fully, despite her ironically intense fear of flying. After a near-death experience, Mel is inspired to step outside her comfort zone and embrace love and life. The cast also featured Conrad Ricamora, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Jocko Sims, and Michelle McLeod as her fellow airport colleagues.

Rothwell previously described How to Die Alone as the most vulnerable project she has ever worked on, focusing on the nuanced difference between being alone and being lonely. “I really didn’t pull any punches,” she told EW.

Looking ahead, Rothwell will appear in the third season of The White Lotus, where she will reprise her role as Belinda in the season set in Thailand. Premiering on February 16, the new season will also introduce newcomers Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Blackpink’s Lisa, and Jason Isaacs, among others.

Variety was the first to report on the cancellation.

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