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NEED TO KNOW
Ice-T is sharing why he isn't in SVU as much this season
The actor and rapper said in an interview published by TMZ that his role was reduced in season 27 given the return of costar Kelli Giddish
"It's just basically business," he said
Ice-Tknows fans have been seeing less of him onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit— and he has an answer as to why.
The Body Count frontman, 67, claimed toTMZin a video shared on Monday, Nov. 24, that his reduced presence on season 27 ofSVUis connected to the return of costarKelli Giddish.
"It's just basically business," he told the outlet.
"They brought Kelli back, and at the end of the day, they couldn't really keep both of us on full-time, as far as budget-wise," Ice-T said. "So they said, Ice, we'll have you come in and out this year, that way we could bring… Everybody wanted Kelli back, and we've got new cops and stuff like that."
Peter Kramer/NBC via Getty
Despite the less screen time from the series regular, Ice reassured fans that he's "not leaving" the show, which he joined during its second season in 2000 as Odafin "Fin" Tutuola. "I'm more concerned with doing season 28," he said. "So this year, they said, 'Ice, we're gonna work you a little less.' Everything was cool with me, I understood."
The multi-hyphenate also asked if the show was planning on "getting rid" of him. Their response: "No way."
"I've been on this show for 27 years. I'm not gonna say nothing negative about that show. They've taken care of me for so long," he said. "So I just want to get to season 28."
The latest arrangement has also given Ice a chance "to do other projects" on the side, as he encouraged fans to not "worry" about his status onSVU. "I'm kind of glad the fans are upset," he joked.
He added, "Because what if I was missing and nobody cared? That would be something to worry about. But the fact that the fans wanted to see a little bit more of Fin, that's good. But I'm gonna be sprinkled throughout this season."
PerEntertainment Weekly, Ice has appeared in four of the current eight episodes in season 27, while Giddish has appeared in six.
The reduced appearances onSVUcome amid the return of Giddish, 45, who rejoined the show as Sgt. Amanda Rollins in October. She initially departed the NBC series in December 2022 in the middle of its 24th season, before guest-starring in seasons 25 and 26.
Speaking with TVLine back in June, Ice-T said he and colleagues were "blindsided" by Giddish's departure, crediting fans for her "coming back."
"Kelli is dope. Me and her were teammates and partners," he said of his co-star. "I fell in love with Kelli as a person. She's just a sweetheart."
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Last fall, Giddish's guest spot onSVUmarked her promotion to sergeant and a new job with the NYPD Intelligence Unit. She told PEOPLE that she was "so excited to actually do that" when writers pitched her the idea. She first appeared in the series in season 13.
SVUairs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
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