Ice-T says he was 'blindsided' by Law & Order: SVU costar's departure: 'No one really expected her to leave'

Ice-T is giving Law & Order: Special Victims Unit fans their props for their part in getting Kelli Giddish returning as a series regular for the show's upcoming 27th season.

"No one really expected her to leave the show. We got blindsided by that," Ice-T told TVLine on Tuesday of Giddish's surprise exit in the middle of season 24. "But the fans said they wanted to see Kelli back, so she's coming back."

Indeed, Giddish is making an official return back to the SVU office full-time for its upcoming 27th season. The former detective-turned-professor has appeared as a guest star in multiple episodes for both season 25 and 26 after her departure in 2022.

"Kelli is dope. Me and her were teammates and partners," Ice-T said of the actress, who made her debut on the beloved NBC procedural as Det. Amanda Rollins in season 13, just after original cast member Chris Meloni departed as Det. Stabler. "I fell in love with Kelli as a person. She's just a sweetheart."

Giddish's return will be especially sweet for fans of Rollins' friendship with Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson, which the actress gushed about to EW ahead of season 26.

"It's very natural and organic. She's a great friend of mine and it’s comfortable and it's empowering," she added. "I'm honored to play a part next to her and also honored to be her friend. I love going back to see Ice, and it's like, everybody there, I have such a good relationship with. It's nothing but good times when I go back."

Ice-T reacts to fan saying 'Law & Order': SVU has gone 'woke': 'Lol like I give a f‑‑‑'

'Law & Order: SVU' alum Kelli Giddish teases new Benson and Rollins dynamic

NBC renewed SVU for season 27 in May. The upcoming season will find the procedural under the supervision of a new showrunner, Michele Fazekas (Gen V) and down two squad members: actors Octavio Pisano and Juliana Aidén Martinez won't be coming back after season 26.

Pisano joined the main cast of SVU for season 23 in 2021. His scarred and rowdy undercover Detective Velasco was brought after Katriona "Kat" Tamin (Jamie Gray Hyder) left the series following the season 23 premiere.

Season 26 saw Martinez join the cast in 2024, which ended on May 25 . Her Detective Silva was transferred from Brooklyn's Homicide Division and quickly befriended Velasco.

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SVU has not seen a major cast exit in a number of years. But the flagship series suffered two major losses in 2024, with the departures of Lt. Kate Dixon (Camryn Manheim) and D.A. Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston, who appeared on over 400 episodes of the series).