The Departure of Christopher Meloni from Law & Order: SVU: What Led to His Exit?!
ADVERTISEMENT
Elliot Stabler is arguably the second-most important character on Law & Order: SVU. He was on the show for over a decade, and his chemistry with Olivia Benson (the most important character) was part of what made SVU such a ratings juggernaut. Seeing Stabler leave the show in season 13 was tough, and once the character returned to the franchise with Law & Order: Organized Crime, there was some confusion about why he left in the first place.
Christopher Meloni, the actor who plays Stabler, has been open about the events that led to him leaving the show, and why he eventually decided to return and lead his own spinoff. He discussed the matter during a 2021 interview with Men’s Health.
Why did Elliot Stabler leave Law & Order: SVU?
The reason Meloni left Law & Order: SVU was because he felt he wasn’t getting paid enough. He wanted more than the showrunners were offering, and even tried to figure out a way to remain on the show while maximizing his pay, but in the end, an agreement couldn’t be reached.
ADVERTISEMENT
“My thought was: Instead of 22 episodes, bring me back for nine episodes, or bring me back for 18 episodes,” Meloni revealed. “They literally came to me on a Thursday night and said, ‘This is the deal. We want the answer by tomorrow. It’s our way or no way’.” [I said] ‘I don’t want to f*** around with you guys. This is what I want. If you can’t do it, that’s fine. Let’s figure out my exit’.”
Fortunately, Stabler resurfaced when Law & Order: Organized Crime was launched in 2021.
Meloni shed light on the decision to return during a 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly. He cited, specifically, the desire to do the character justice after he was previously was abruptly written off.
“If you have, at least from my perspective, a very well-known and beloved TV character who left abruptly and, I would argue, unceremoniously… there’s a built-in recognizability, a thing that needs to be satiated with a sense of closure,” the actor noted. It’s the rare instance of an actor getting a second crack at the same character, and frankly, we couldn’t be happier than he’s back.
News
Breaking: Kid Rock and Jason Aldean’s You Can’t Cancel America Tour Breaks Taylor Swift’s Attendance Record
Breaking: Kid Rock and Jason Aldean’s You Can’t Cancel America Tour Breaks Taylor Swift’s Attendance Record In an unprecedented event in the world of live music, Kid Rock and Jason Aldean’s joint venture, the “You Can’t Cancel America Tour,” has…
Jack Black Thrown out of RNC After Begging To Be on Stage with Kid Rock?
On July 19, 2024, the Facebook page SpaceX Fanclub posted a meme claiming actor Jack Black was thrown out of the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) after begging to be allowed on stage with musician Kid Rock: Some users in…
Kid Rock’s reaction to Beyoncé’s offer of millions
Kid Rock Declines Beyoncé’s Offer Amidst Accusations of Credibility Grab In a surprising turn of events, Kid Rock has reportedly turned down a lucrative offer from Beyoncé to join her on stage at several of his shows. According to sources,…
Jason Aldean PROUDLY Claims His ‘You Can’t Cancel America’ Tour Draws Bigger Audience Than Taylor Swift
Jason Aldean PROUDLY Claims His ‘You Can’t Cancel America’ Tour Draws Bigger Audience Than Taylor Swift Jason Aldean, a staple in the country music world, launched his “You Can’t Cancel America” tour amidst a backdrop of cultural and political…
Best of luck Jason
TRUE: Jason Aldean Files A $100 Billion ‘Defamation’ Lawsuit Against Whoopi Goldberg In a world where country roads and courtroom drama are seldom intertwined, country music icon Jason Aldean and esteemed comedian Whoopi Goldberg are scripting an unexpected narrative that…
Jason Aldean Refuses To Let Taylor Swift On Stage: “Her Music Is Bubblegum, Not Real Country Artist”
Jason Aldean Refuses To Let Taylor Swift On Stage: “Her Music Is Bubblegum, Not Real Country Artist” Jason Aldean, renowned for his authentic country roots, recently made headlines by turning down a staggering $500 million offer to collaborate with pop…
End of content
No more pages to load