The actor took to Instagram on Wednesday to issue a statement regarding her departure from the NBC crime drama.
Giddish first took on the role of Detective Rollins in 2011 in its thirteenth season, and the actor confirmed that Season 24, which will premiere on September 22, will be her last.
Kelli Giddish Confirms She’s Leaving ‘Law & Order: SVU’ - Read Statement
Giddish shared an image of herself in character as Rollins on Instagram, alongside a statement that saw her say being on the show was “one of the greatest joys” of her life.
In her statement, Giddish said: “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.
“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….”
Why is Kelli Giddish Leaving ‘Law & Order: SVU’?
A specific reason has not been given for Giddish’s departure from the role of Detective Rollins, however showrunner David Graziano has offered a response to fans who were angered by the news.
Graziano commented on Giddish’s post with a crying emoji, which drew some criticism from the actor’s fans and in response the showrunner said: “You might take a moment to entertain the idea that things are more complex than they appear in a world of emojis and tweets.
“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. I’m saddened by her looming exit. It’ll be my lucky day if I ever get to write for her again.”
NBC representatives declined to give further comment when approached by Newsweek.
Update 08/25/22 8:56 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include NBC declining to comment further about Kelli Giddish’s exit from Law & Order: SVU.
