(Photo by: Michael Greenberg/NBC)
Law & Order: SVU is losing another one of its detectives. Kelli Giddish is departing the series after 12 years as Detective Amanda Rollins. She will depart during the first half of season 24.
Also starring Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, and Peter Scanavino, the series follows the detectives of the elite Special Victim Unit of the NYPD. Giddish said the following about her departure from the NBC series:
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Warren Leight, the recently departed showrunner of Law & Order: SVU, shared his reaction about Giddish’s departure from the crime drama, per Deadline:
“Writing for Kelli Giddish was an unmitigated joy. She has always had perfect pitch, from first read-through to final take. I thank her for defining Rollins. Godspeed, Kelli.”
SVU’s current showrunner, David Graziano, also spoke about her exit after fans reacted to the news on social media:
“You might take a moment to entertain the idea that things are more complex than they appear in a world of emojis and tweets. All I’ll say is Kelli has handled this with the most incredibly classy comportment. She is, without a doubt, one of the finest industry professionals I’ve come across in my 24 years of writing for television. I’m saddened by her looming exit. It’ll be my lucky day if I ever get to write for her again.”
Giddish leaving the long-running series was seemingly not her choice, nor was it Graziano’s. Variety reports that, according to multiple sources, the decision came from above following contract negotiations. Star and executive producer Hargitay, as well as at least one producer, pushed for Giddish to stay, but the decision had already been made.
Law & Order: SVU returns for its 24th season on September 22nd.
What do you think? Are you surprised that Giddish is leaving Law & Order: SVU?
I’m so sorry Kelli is leaving. I will miss her character & beautiful face. She will continue to go far, in her craft.
Damn people can’t keep the good casts together! Kelli & Peter’s romance has been so lovely. I don’t think this is a good move for the series and a stupid move when I’m SURE they could afford to pay her what she was asking for!
BIG MISTAKE !!! Kelli gives balance to the show working with Mariska. I used to love the interaction with the two of them, and now that has been taken away…and RUINED the show…in my opinion! I don’t know what NBC is doing changing to a two hour primetime??? What about One Chicago, 3 shows, with sometimes crossovers. Law & Order, 3 shows, with sometimes crossovers. I certainly haven’t heard that CBS is doing something that ridiculous…I love their FBI shows. Oh well , I guess I’ll just have to watch reruns of SVU and Chicago shows…and stick with CBS for… Read more »
I felt the same way when I heard that! I watch NBC on Wednesdays & Thursdays just for the Chicago Med, Fire & PD, and the L&O shows. Moving to a two hour prime time will put two of those shows on different days so they’ll go head-to-head with other shows I watch. Chicago PD is my favorite NBC show so they best not mess with too much more or they’ll lose more viewerships, if others feel the way we do!
Sorry to see Kelli leave. She was a huge part of Law and Order and she was just getting her life back on track. She was one of the reasons why I watched that show. She will be missed
Sorry to see Kelli Giddish leaving SVU. I have followed her career ever since she was on the soap All My Children. Will miss her on Law & Order SVU/
Guess I will mark this program off my list was one of my favorites
It’s all about the $$$$$. And she probably makes less than most the males on these 3 franchise shows. Ask for equality & they kick you to the curb.
I am so sad to see her leave and letting her go is a Big mistake..im sure the replacement will be Piss Poor and the show will lose viewers..
She left on her own she wanted to leave ok she been on the show for 12 years she wants to do something else spend time with family or something I am happy that she going to do find something else to do with her life and not spend it all on SVU I think she making the right the decision to leave the show
It was because they wouldn’t pay her what she wanted so she’s leaving so that’s NOT really HER choice!! Had they paid her, she’d still be playing Rollins.
i am beyond disgusted that they have sacked her it wasnt her decision to leave and its all about male chavanistic ego who think women cant be police and to have just mariska the only woman left on the show its so sad