Law & Order: SVU Star Kelli Giddish Will Not Be Returning To The Show, Prompting Fan Outrage And A Petition To Keep Her Playing Rollins
NBC’s hit series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been on air since September 20, 1999, amidst unwavering success and support from fans.
But, even though the show’s cast list has undergone many changes over the last twenty-three years, many people regard Kelli Giddish– who plays the role of Detective Amanda Rollins– as an instrumental force in the show’s accomplishments.
Just this past month, though, Kelli was forced to announce heartbreaking news. In a statement she published on Instagram, the actress revealed she would not be returning to SVU after Season 24.
“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.’,” she wrote on August 24.
“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 twelve years. There are simply no other characters on TV like Rollings,” Kelli continued.
“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.”
Kelli’s fans and followers around the globe were unsurprisingly heartbroken– leaving the post with nearly one hundred and fifteen thousand likes and thousands of comments.
“SVU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU,” commented one user.
Instagram; pictured above Kelli smiles with Mariska Hargitay
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“So much for waiting for Amanda and Carisi, and this breaks my heart,” wrote a second user.
“I am really going to miss you. I don’t want you to leave,” added a third, followed by crying emojis.
And tragically, it appears that Kelli did not really want to leave the show either– because showrunner David Graziano later issued a statement regarding her departure.
“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 said in an interview with TVLine.
“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.”
What exactly happened that forced Kelli to maintain her grace and composure behind the scenes is still under speculation, though.
Variety has since reported that Kelli’s leave was a “call made from above” in order to “keep the show as up to date and current as possible.”
And apparently, Mariska Hargitay and Dick Wolf both pushed for the star to remain on board. However, the decision was reportedly already final and coupled with stalemates regarding salary negotiations and character Detective Amanda Rollin’s future on the show.
Nonetheless, fans honestly do not care about this call from the higher-ups. Instead, they believe that the public has proved their love for Kelli.
Plus, some have even taken to Change.org in order to petition for the star to be kept in the show’s production.
“It has come to light that she [Kelli] was recently fired for a wrongful reason, and that is not okay. Kelli deserved more respect than what she got. This is an outrage and a prime example of how this industry views and treats women,” the petition states.
Danielle G., the woman behind the petition, also addressed Kelli’s cast mates’ inability to rally against the exit. “Since she and none of the cast can speak out for her, we will on her behalf. We will not be silent. Enough is enough.”
The petition has since gained just over three thousand and seven hundred signatures, with many fans sharing everything from heartfelt sentiments to furious comments.
“She is a great addition to the show– playing a strong, intelligent but flawed woman who constantly battles her own demons,” wrote one petitioner, Joanna Blais.
“This is outrageous. Amanda (Kelli) is Benson’s only female friend and outlet on the show. This is a really dumb move. I can’t see this show lasting much longer after this,” wrote a second, Latrice Christian.
“#NoRollinsNoRatings,” added a third, Joyce Rannochio.
However, just how much of an impact this petition could have on the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit cast line-up is likely dependent on the number of signatures it gains. So, it sadly appears that many more Detective Rollins lovers will have to step up to the plate and pledge their signature before the petition is recognized by producers.
To contribute your support or simply view the complete petition, visit the link here.
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