We Can't Imagine 'Law & Order: SVU' Without Kelli Giddish — Why Is She Leaving the Show?

Dec. 9 2022, Updated 2:37 p.m. ET

When Chris Meloni swiftly left Law & Order: SVU ahead of its 13th season, enthusiasts if truth be told frightened concerning the fate of the display. Meloni's Elliot Stabler was a sassy staple of the sequence, and his absence left quite a lot of unfastened ends (hello, Olivia Benson). Luckily Kelli Giddish stepped in as Detective Amanda Rollins and gained nothing but rave evaluations from critics and co-workers alike.

In May 2012, Ice-T (who plays Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola) advised TVLine, "The quarterback changed, but we still had to move the ball down the field. And we did well."

Kelli was part of this new group and things had been in point of fact gelling. Sadly, she just lately announced it was once her turn to depart the display, which will inevitably reason a new workforce to shape. Why did Kelli Giddish leave Law & Order: SVU? Let's get into it.

Why is Kelli Giddish leaving 'Law & Order: SVU'?

In an emotional Instagram post dated Aug. 24, Kelli Giddish broke the unfortunate information that Season 24 of Law & Order: SVU could be her final. "Playing Rollins has been one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life. I’ve been so fortunate to be a part of the Law & Order family for the last 12 years," she wrote. "There is simply no other character on TV like Rollins. She’s grown and changed, and I have as well."

Kelli added that after she started on the show in 2012, she was once in her past due 20s. "I'm grateful I got to spend so many of my adult years with Rollins in my life." She additionally thanked Dick Wolf, Mariska Hargitay, Warren Leight, Peter Jankowski, NBC, Universal Television, her co-stars, the staff, and the entire writers who brought Detective Amanda Rollins to existence and gave her a spot to shine.

Fans were equivalent parts heartbroken and livid in regards to the news, which triggered a statement from Law & Order: SVU showrunner David Graziano. "You might take a moment to entertain the idea that things are more complex than they appear in a world of emojis and tweets," David instructed TVLine on Aug. 24. "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 television."

It certainly doesn't sound like this was once a mutual resolution, and the next day to come, Variety reported as a lot. According to numerous resources, Kelli's go out "was a call made from above, with one insider noting that the company is always looking to keep the show as up to date and current as possible."

Despite the truth that Mariska Hargitay and a minimum of one other producer supposedly fought to keep Kelli on the show, the "decision had already been made." Variety additionally reported that compromises could not be made all over contemporary salary negotiations.

What took place to Amanda Rollins on 'SVU'?

Amanda's final appearance in the show occurred on Dec. 8, 2022 in Season 24, Episode 9, name "And a Trauma in a Pear Tree." The episode in truth begins out tremendous pleased with Rollins and Sonny's small, surprise marriage ceremony in their favorite courtroom. Everyone is thrilled ... till they be informed that Rollins has decided to leave the squad and change into a professor.

When Rollins tells Liv Benson about her plans to go away the squad, she says, "I made this choice, and I need you to be OK with it." As one might expect, Liv is decidedly not OK with it. Rollins reassures Benson, pronouncing, "We're friends. That's not going to change. I'm not going to disappear." Which is nice ... but we will't lend a hand but indicate that she actually is disappearing for us.

While we are clearly sad to peer Rollins make her exit from the squad (and Kelli make her go out from the display), we're very satisfied that she appears to be getting a cheerful finishing. Now we're just hoping for a cameo appearance someday in the future!

Catch new episodes of Law & Order: SVU on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

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