DRAKE WAS ON THE VERGE OF WALKING AWAY FROM DEGRASSI AFTER THAT SEASON 4 TWIST, THE 100% INTENSE STORY

Degrassi Writer Says Drake Almost Left the Show Unless His Character Got "Out of the Wheelchair."

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Degrassi: The Next Generation's premiere episode, a number of alums shared their memories of Drake and his paralysis story line.

Drake's former Degrassi co-workers are weighing in on the performer's star making acting gig.

In honor of Degrassi: The Next Generation celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Oct. 14, 2001 series premiere, a number of the show's cast members and behind the-scenes talent reminisced about its big moments in an oral history published by The A.V. Club on Thursday, Oct. 14.

This included the season four twist involving Rick Murray (Ephraim Ellis) shooting Jimmy Brooks (Drake) and causing him to become paralyzed.

In the piece, James Hurst, who wrote for the Canadian teen drama series, alleged that Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, was adamant at one point about no longer wanting his character to use a wheelchair.

"There was a letter from a law firm in Toronto, and it was from Aubrey," James said. "It was an odd letter that said, 'Aubrey Graham will not return to Degrassi season six as Jimmy Brooks unless his injury is healed, and he's out of the wheelchair.' I said, 'Get him down here.' He came in and was like, 'What letter? I don't know about that."

The writer continued, "And I said, 'All right, I understand. But how do you feel about the wheelchair?" He's like, 'All my friends in the rap game say I'm soft because I'm in a wheelchair.' And I said, 'Well, tell your friends in the rap game that you got shot. How much harder can you get? You got shot, and you're in a wheelchair.""

According to James, Drake, who remained with the show until season eight, ultimately understood where the writing staff was coming from and had a change of heart. Although Jimmy continued to use the wheelchair throughout season six, he underwent stem cell surgery the following season and was seen using crutches in the season seven finale.

"He was so nice and apologetic about everything," James said. "He instantly backed down. I was very passionate about it, and I said, 'Aubrey, there's some kid somewhere in a wheelchair, who's completely ignored, who's never on television, never gets represented." I need you to represent this person. You're the coolest kid on the show, and you can say there's nothing wrong with being in a wheelchair."

Although the 34-year-old "Started from the Bottom" vocalist did not participate in the oral history, some of his former co stars speculated that there may have been multiple reasons why Drake didn't want to act from a wheelchair.