Actor Jim Parsons (crouching) poses with co-stars from the television series "The Big Bang Theory" (from L-R) Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch, Simon Helberg, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting
Actor Jim Parsons (crouching) poses with co-stars from the television series "The Big Bang Theory" (from L-R) Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch, Simon Helberg, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, on his star after it was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California March 11, 2015. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

“The Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons has broken his silence over reports that he was the reason the popular US sitcom is ending. The 45-year-old Emmy Award-winning actor was reportedly offered more money to stay with the CBS show, but he was said to be determined to leave.

According to EW, CBS tried to entice Parsons to stay for two more years, telling him he would make more than US$50 million (AU$69 million) plus profits. However, Parsons was ready to walk away. And because the show can’t go on without his character, Dr Sheldon Cooper, the producers have decided to end the sitcom after 12 seasons.

In a long statement he posted on Instagram, Parsons said he was grateful for a lot of things in the show, including the fans, the crew, writers and his co-stars. He also said he would miss them all. However, he did not mention anything about the report that was the reason the show was ending.

“Something else I feel grateful for — and this gratitude needs not time to ‘sink in’ or become more ‘realised;’ this grateful-feeling is always with me but is multiplied in this moment of us announcing our final season — but I feel such intense gratitude for our devoted viewers who are the ACTUAL reason we have been graced with the opportunity to explore these characters for 12 years of our lives,” he wrote.

The star won four Emmys and one Golden Globe for his role. He, along with main co-stars Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco, is said to be earning US$1 million (AU$1.37 million) per episode. The show also stars Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik.

Reactions from co-stars

The cast and crew of "The Big Bang Theory"
The cast and crew of "The Big Bang Theory" accepts the award for Favorite Network TV Comedy at the People's Choice Awards 2017 in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 18, 2017. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni
"The Big Bang Theory" television series Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Melissa Rauch and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting (L-R)
Cast members from the "The Big Bang Theory" television series Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Melissa Rauch and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting (L-R) take the stage at the 23rd annual A Night at Sardi's benefit for the Alzheimer's Association in Beverly Hills, California March 18, 2015. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

“This ride has been a dream come true and as life changing as it gets,” Cuoco wrote on Instagram. “No matter when it was going to end, my heart would have always been broken in two. Drowning in tears, we promise to bring you the best season yet.”

“There are no words in any language that can describe what my heart wants to say… The love that I feel for all of you is boundless,” Nayyar also wrote.

Bialik wrote on her blog, “Being an employed actor on what is the #1 comedy in America is unbelievable. And the fact that so many people consider us a part of their lives and families is powerful. I don’t take any of it for granted.”

The final season of the show is already in production. It will start airing in September in the US.

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