Kelli Giddish was reportedly forced out of her role on Law & Order: SVU. The longest-running procedural on TV is set to return for season 24 on NBC with an already confirmed three-way crossover with the rest of the Law & Order franchise. Led by Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson, the actor is joined by Law & Order: SVU veterans Ice-T as Fin, Peter Scanavino as ADA Sonny Carisi Jr., Octavio Pisano as Detective 3rd Grade Joe Velasco, Molly Burnett as Detective Grace Muncy, and Giddish as Amanda Rollins.
There was an idea that Law & Order: SVU season 24 would keep its core cast intact. That is, until news broke out that Giddish will be exiting the show sometime in the upcoming year. Joining the NBC police procedural in season 13, Rollins has grown to be an integral part of the SVU team, having Fin, Benson, and even Nick Amaro (Danny Pino) as his partners over the years. More recently, she has become a mother, focusing on raising her kid and finally starting a romantic relationship with Carisi.
When the news initially broke out that she was exiting Law & Order: SVU, there weren't many details revealed. Now, however, more information is coming out about what really went down behind-the-scenes, per a new report from Variety. As it turns out, it was neither Giddish nor new showrunner David Graziano's decision for Rollins to leave. Instead, it was "a call made from above" and may have something to do about salary negotiations. In addition to that, Hargitay, who also serves as a producer, objected to this decision, but it was already made. Read the related excerpt from the report below:
According to multiple sources, the “SVU” shake-up 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. Mariska Hargitay, who is both the star and an executive producer on the Dick Wolf drama, as well as at least one other producer pushed to keep Giddish on the procedural, but the decision had already been made.
Additionally, salary negotiations and her future on the show were part of the conversation and, ultimately, a compromise couldn’t be made.
This isn't the first time that Law & Order: SVU has had issues with pay disputes. It's worth remembering that, on the heels of season 12, original cast member Christopher Meloni opted to leave the show after more than a decade of playing Elliot Stabler due to salary issues. Giddish's situation may be slightly different, however, if this new report is to be believed. It seems like there was already intent of forcing the actor out of the police procedural, it just so happened that the salary negotiations also fell through. Perhaps, the fact that they never found a middle ground was all part of the ploy to essentially boot Giddish out.
Unfortunately, the report doesn't say whose decision it ultimately was to force out Giddish. However, considering the fact that even Hargitay, who is the face of Law & Order: SVU, couldn't do anything to prevent the actor from being essentially fired, there's only a handful of other people who could have made this shocking decision. Right now, fans are convinced that it was actually Law & Order creator Dick Wolf's call, although it's unclear why he would want to fire one of the show's most seasoned cast members. In any case, considering that Meloni found his way back to the franchise a decade after his initial exit, there may still be a chance that Law & Order: SVU finds Rollins' return down the road as well.
Source: Variety