Kelli Giddish didn’t want to leave Law & Order: SVU

If you’ve watched Law & Order: SVU at any point over the last twelve years, you’re likely quite familiar with NYPD Detective Amanda Rollins. Kelli Giddish, who has played Rollins since the thirteenth season of Law & Order: SVU, announced last week that she would be leaving the show, but according to Variety, it wasn’t entirely her choice.

Variety reported that Kelli Giddish’s exit from Law & Order: SVU wasn’t a decision made by showrunner David Graziano, but rather by someone higher up. One insider said that “the company is always looking to keep the show as up to date and current as possible,” whatever that means. Variety also said that Mariska Hargitay, who has starred in the series from day one and is an executive producer, tried to keep Kelli Giddish on the show but was unsuccessful. Salary negotiations were also said to play a part when a compromise couldn’t be made.

“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,” Kelli Giddish said in a statement when the announcement was first made. “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. 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.“

The Law & Order franchise is still going strong; In fact, the casts of all three Law & Order shows (the original, SVU, and Organized Crime) will come together for a three-hour crossover event next month. The crossover will follow Det. Frank Cosgrove (Jeffrey Donovan) and Det. Jalen Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) as they track down a young girl’s killer. As the case gets more complicated, Olivia Benson and Det. Elliot Stabler (Meloni) are called in to help. After key evidence reveals an international crime ring, Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and ADA Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy) seek justice.