Yesterday, Sergio announced that Tia Mowry and Pooch Hall will not be returning to the sixth season of BET's The Game. Although mystery surrounds their departure, there are rumors that the actors left the show due to a salary dispute with the network.

Today, BET released the following official statement:

After five seasons on 'The Game,' Pooch Hall and Tia Mowry will not return as regular cast members on season six on BET Networks. As a result of Pooch's involvement on a new project, BET is in the process of reworking the casting and storyline of the show. That said, we hope both Pooch and Tia will make several guest appearances.

While we (will) miss the incredible adventures of Melanie and Derwin on 'The Game,' we appreciate all of their hard work, the laughs and wish them both the best on their future endeavors.

Robert Thompson, TV, radio and film professor at Syracuse University, told Detroit News that the Mara Brock Ali exec-produced hit show may fare better without Mowry and Hall.

Thompson says, "This is very unusual and hard to pull off, but sometimes these major cast changes can refresh a show; 'Law & Order' lasted as long as it did at least in part because of occasional cast overhauls," he added, "In the case of 'The Game,' these changes could allow the show to explore all kinds of new dramatic territory."

BET did confirm however, that cast members Wendy Raquel Robinson, Coby Bell, Hosea Chanchez and Brandy Norwood will return for The Game's 6th season.