Law & Order: SVU actor Kelli Giddish gives an emotional farewell to her fans after portraying Detective Amanda Rollins for 12 epic seasons.
Law & Order: SVU star Kelli Giddish bids her fans goodbye as she departs the show after a 12-season run. Giddish has starred in the crime drama since 2011 as Detective Amanda Rollins. Over the years, viewers got to watch her grow into her role at the Manhattan Special Victims Unit as she transformed from an over-eager fresh detective to a seasoned Detective Second Grade. However, on August 24, Giddish confirmed to her fans that Law & Order: SVU season 24 would be her last. On December 8, “And a Trauma in a Pear Tree” aired, marking Giddish’s final appearance as Rollins.
Shortly before the episode premiered, Giddish took to Instagram to give an emotional farewell to her Law & Order: SVU fans. She kept things short but sweet as she expressed gratitude, and paired it with several touching photos of her with her co-stars. Her post came as many of her co-stars and fans paid tribute to her and her iconic portrayal of Rollins throughout the years.
Why Rollins’ Exit Is So Controversial
Sadness over Giddish’s departure quickly gave way to chagrin when reports arose that she was forced out of Laws & Order: SVU. While Giddish didn’t provide many details when she announced her farewell, it was reported that her removal was ordered by the “higher-ups” of the show. It was alleged that she didn’t have a choice and, as a result, did not leave the show of her own volition despite having been a staple on Law & Order: SVU for such a long period.
It is unclear who ultimately called for Giddish’s removal. However, it reportedly was not David Graziano, the new showrunner who took over from Warren Leight beginning with Law & Order: SVU season 24. Additionally, it was also claimed that one of SVU‘s stars, Mariska Hargitay, had advocated for Giddish and fought for her to stay on the show. Since Giddish ended up departing anyway, it seemed that the cast and showrunner of the show held little sway over the higher-ups who refused to back down from their decision.
As for why Giddish was removed, that is unclear. However, it was reported that the producers had a different vision for Law & Order: SVU‘s future. They were looking to keep things on the show new and as current as possible, which apparently meant leaving behind some of the show’s long-lived characters. There were also suggestions that salary negotiations had played into their decision to let Giddish go. When these reports arose, fans were outraged and slammed NBC for the decision, even sparking Twitter trends. Rollins’ exit from the show left several holes that won’t easily be filled. It also removed a character who was a trauma survivor and had come to resonate well with viewers despite the show’s darker and grittier content. Giddish’s exit from Law & Order: SVU was, in itself, a big loss for fans of the show, but the fact that she may have been forced out has added to the difficulty of accepting her departure.
Source: Kelli Giddish/Instagram
