Kelli Giddish Leaving ‘Law & Order: SVU’ in Season 24 — New Showrunner Reacts to Exit
The SVU squad will be down a member once again sooner rather than later. Kelli Giddish, who has played Detective Amanda Rollins since Season 13, will be leaving Law & Order: SVU in Season 24. It is unclear exactly when she’ll be leaving or how they will write out Rollins.
“I wanted to address the chatter I’ve seen online and let everyone know that this will, indeed, be my last season on Law & Order: SVU. 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. There is simply no other character on TV like Rollins. She’s grown and changed, and I have as well. I started on this show when I was in my late 20s and I’m grateful I got to spend so many of my adult years with Rollins in my life,” Giddish said in a statement she posted to Instagram.
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She continued, “I want to thank Dick Wolf, Mariska Hargitay, Warren Leight, Peter Jankowski, NBC, Universal Television, all of my co-stars, every single member on the crew and all the writers here for our incredible work together these last 12 years. I’m so excited to take all the things I have learned in my time on SVU and put them toward everything that’s next to come…. ”
SVU‘s new showrunner, David Graziano, addressed Giddish’s exit in the comments of her Instagram post, writing, “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 television. I’m saddened by her looming exit. It’ll be my lucky day if I ever get to write for her again.” Graziano was named the new showrunner in June; Warren Leight announced he was stepping down from the position in May, ahead of the Season 23 finale.
We, of course, have to wonder what this means for Rollins and ADA Carisi’s (Peter Scanavino) future, considering they’ve said “I love you” and it seemed like a wedding could be in the cards for them soon…
SVU is kicking off its 24th season as part of the three-show crossover event with Law & Order and Organized Crime on September 22. It begins with a mysterious young girl shot in cold blood. Detective Frank Cosgrove (Jeffrey Donovan) teams up with Detective Jalen Shaw (Mehcad Brooks, in his L&O debut) to track down her killer. Benson [Hargitay] and Stabler [Christopher Meloni] are called in to help when they realize they have more than a typical homicide case on their hands. After uncovering key evidence, Jack McCoy [Sam Waterston] and ADA Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy) seek justice against an international crime ring, but complications threaten the outcome of their case.
Law & Order: SVU, Season 24 Premiere, Thursday, September 22, 9/8c, NBC
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Awwww man Dick Wolf finally bring Corisii and Rollins together and now she's leaving the show. Rollins really kept the drama and character on SVU. I'm gonna cross my fingers that she will change her mind not leave. #CAN'TWAITFOR9-22-22👍🤗🙏🥰
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I'm afraid it wasn't her choice to leave.
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Was she fired?
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Yes, she was. Just saw an article about it on another site.
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They haven't actually clarified whether she chose to leave or was fired. It's quite vague.
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Horrible idea. I loved her character and missed her when she wasn't there
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PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T GO !!!!!!
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Very upset she's leaving. She was a major part of the show.
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I am hoping she does not leave the show because in my opinion she is a Porten part of the show always has been always will be
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Going to miss Amanda Rollins, loved her character
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I'm going to miss her, since I love Rollins. And, I enjoy her relationship with Carisi. However, I wish the Rollisi shippers would stop acting like the world is over and the show's going to tank without her. lol. The L&O shows have always been ensemble shows. SVU survived without Stabler for 10 years, they'll be just fine without Amanda. Molly Burnett is a great actress, so I look forward to seeing her on SVU this season. Shippers ruin every show, no matter what fandom it is. CHILL OUT, IT'S A TV SHOW.
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Why? So stupid. Another major well-written character is gone. To be replaced by some unknown. Probably a financial decision after 12 years.😒🤦♂️🤬
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I will truly miss Rollins. I think she bought a lot into the show. Her beautiful looks and her southern charm, that I loved. She will be truly missed. May wherever she goes. God will be with her.
I love you Kelli. You are like one of my daughters.
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Is Dick Wolf trying to close all his shows down. So dedicated then they pull this crap
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True, Elliot left, but he took his wife and children with him. If Amanda leaves, presumably her girls will as well... but what will happen to her and Sunny, since he seems to be staying? 🙁
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I believe she was. Her comments sounded pretty much like she was let go. She used class in her statments. Kelli we will miss you. You really are such a big part of the show. God bless you and good luck with your future. 👍🤗
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Well l hope you are right.
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I will really miss Rollins. I really liked the character and was excited about she and Carisi getting together. I had the feeling that something was going to change when Christopher Meloni came back and they started connecting the new show with Law and Order SVU. I don't think l am going to like the show as much. I know they say things change but, l don't think that this is going to work. I really don't like the new show. Good luck. I have watched rerun after re-run . L&0 SVU has been my all-time favorite thus far.
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I'm sorry but it's going to be very very hard for me to continue watching law and order SVU we all know Benson is it but Amanda was probably the main reason I've kept on watching because they keep bringing in these mail actors nothing against that but they need to keep the females in there and why they want to change out yet another female because you know there's so many shows with good actresses with female characters such as Kelli and it's shame they didn't come to some kind of terms with keeping her there. It's something crazy was no longer in the unit but I'm glad he was still in the show and then they bring in another guy we seen that didn't work out well now they've got you another guy and I don't think he is going to work out I think he actually sucks as an actor just my personal opinion though and only mine. I think Dick Wolf has just said the show will be ending without actually saying that by letting her go, and then Halstead from Chicago PD for the same exact reasons. Hey let him switch places Rollins can go be a detective and Chicago and you can go to SVU I might still watch he's not one of my favorite characters but it would possibly help me keep watching SVU. Love Benson, but love Benson/Rollins pair soooooo much more. Again Dick Wolf by making the moves he just has.
What really means is the time has come to say good by to SVU it's come to it's end.
SHAME on the networks, Dick Wolf why would you ever ever listen to fans on want they want🤔🤔🤔 oh our💰💰💰💰
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I think she's prettier than Kelly Ripa, actually. I remember when Kelli played Dixie's sister Di on AMC way back in the day. She was great.