Ice-T Reveals the Real Reason He’s Missing From ‘Law and Order: SVU’ Season 27: ‘Fans Are Upset’
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit viewers have noticed the absence of Ice-T’s character, Odafin “Fin” Tutuola, during season 27. Now, the actor is explaining why fans have seen less of him lately.
“It’s just basically business. They brought Kelli [Giddish] back. At the end of the day, they couldn’t keep both of us on both times, as far as budget-wise,” Ice-T, 67, told TMZ during a Monday, November 24, interview.
Ice-T has portrayed Fin since season 2 in 2000, making his tenure the second longest in the show’s history behind Mariska Hargitay’s stint as Olivia Benson. Since season 27 premiered in September, he has only appeared in four out of the eight episodes that have aired.
Meanwhile, Giddish, 45, initially played Amanda Rollins from seasons 13 to 24. After her 2022 exit from Law and Order: SVU, she returned as a series regular for season 27.
While some fans have been worried about Ice-T’s status on the show, he assured viewers that he is sticking around for the foreseeable future, despite his diminished screen time.
“They said, ‘Ice, we’ll have you come in and out this year,’” he recalled. “Everybody wanted Kelli back. We have new cops. I am not leaving the show. I am more concerned with going to season 28. This year, they said, ‘Ice, we’re going to work you a little less.’ Everything was cool with me. I understood. I said, ‘Are you getting rid of me?’ They said, ‘No way. We can’t imagine Law and Order without you.’”
He added: “I’ve been on this show for 27 years. I am not going to say anything negative about this show. They have taken care of me for so long. I’m trying to get to season 28.”