Taylor Kinney Spotted at First Public Event Since 'Chicago Fire' Hiatus

The actor took a 'leave of absence' from the show in January after an 11-season run.

Taylor Kinney made his first public appearance after departing Chicago Fire back in January.

The 41-year-old actor stepped out for his first red-carpet appearance since announcing his temporary exit from the NBC drama–and it was all for a good cause.

The star attended the MotoGP VIP Experience & Charity Giving event in Austin, Texas, which honors and serves veteran communities. The event is set to bring together a community of people who "make an impact in helping our wounded combat veterans integrate and adjust back into society through the active participation of motorsports." 

The MotoUp Instagram account posted a photo of the star on their page, writing, "Thanks for stopping by @taylorkinney111 to see what we’re doing to help out our #veterans ♥️🇺🇸" 

Kinney donned a pair of blue jeans along with a black graphic t-shirt, pairing the look with a black hat and a pair of white sneakers. He stood alongside his girlfriend, model Ashley Cruger, who rocked a black tank top, black shorts, and a pair of nude heels.

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"❤️Nice seeing Taylior Kinney at an event in Austin Texas since he left on Chicago Fire ❤️," one fan wrote in the comments. 

Back in January, Kinney announced that he would be "taking a leave of absence" from the drama to deal with a personal matter, per Deadline. He's helmed the series in the role of firefighter Lieutenant Kelly Severide since the show's debut in Oct. 2012. 

At the time, the cast and crew of the Dick Wolf procedural were seemingly blindsided as the outlet reported that they were told about Kinney's decision to exit the show only a few hours before the news was made public.

The writers were forced to pivot the scripts, ultimately deciding to send Kinney's character out of town to attend “the best arson investigation training program in the world.” 

As of now, it's still unclear how long Kinney's hiatus from the show will last, but we hope he gets the break he needs and returns refreshed and ready for action.