Law & Order: SVU fans criticize NBC after the fan-favorite actor Kelli Giddish was reportedly fired from the show. Law & Order: SVU season 24 premieres on September 22, with a three-series crossover event. For the first time, this special episode will bring characters from across the Law & Order franchise together to solve a case. The series is led by Mariska Hargitay, returning as Captain Olivia Benson, Ice-T as Sergeant Fin, and Peter Scanavino as Assistant DA Carisi.
Giddish first joined Law & Order: SVU for season 13, playing the role of Detective Amanda Rollins. Detective Rollins quickly became an essential character in SVU during her 11-year run, with multiple episode arcs dedicated to her struggle with a gambling addiction, her troubled sister Kim, and overcoming her dysfunctional childhood. When NBC announced several weeks ago that Giddish would not be reprising the role of Detective Rollins, fans were shocked by the news. However, several outlets confirmed that Giddish didn't decide to exit the show. Instead, it seems NBC and the show's executive producers made the final call.
Once it became clear that Giddish did not leave SVU of her own volition, fans began questioning executive producer Dick Wolf's decision to let go of the beloved series regular. While fans are disappointed by Giddish's departure, the sense of secrecy surrounding the decision is ripe for speculation and outrage. Check out some reactions below:
Law & Order: SVU fans are organizing an online campaign for her character's return. Nearly 2,500 fans have already signed an online petition titled "Kelli Giddish Deserves Better" that calls out Dick Wolf and Wolf Entertainment for its alleged mistreatment of actors. The petition owner claims this is a part of a larger pattern of firings from Wolf Entertainment, specifically regarding contract negotiations. Fans also call out the hypocrisies of Wolf for creating a show that explores the abuse women endure and overcome while allegedly treating his female cast members poorly.
Law & Order: SVU has experienced several notable cast departures in the show's 23-year run. It is always difficult for fans to say goodbye to a beloved character they watched grow over the last decade. Christopher Meloni, who played fan-favorite Detective Stabler, left the series after season 12 due to a similar contract negotiation situation. Meloni is now a recurring character on the spinoff series, Law & Order: Organized Crime, giving fans some hope that Giddish could reprise her role as Detective Rollins somewhere down the line. Giddish returns as Detective Rollins for a nine-episode run on season 24 of Law & Order: SVU.
Source: Twitter (Various, See Above)