Giddish, 42, went on Instagram to confirm that she was leaving the popular crime drama television show after 12 seasons.
“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,’” Giddish wrote. “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.”
Giddish first joined the series at the beginning of Season 13, when her character was introduced in the episode, “Scorched Earth,” Entertainment Tonight reported. She joined the show along with Danny Pino as Det. Nick Amaro after Christopher Meloni’s unexpected departure at the end of season 12.
According to Variety, Giddish’s departure from the show was not her choice, and it also was not the decision of showrunner David Graziano.
Mariska Hargitay, who is both the star and an executive producer on the show, along with at least one other producer, pushed to keep Giddish on the show, but the decision had already been made, according to Variety.
The entertainment news outlet also noted that salary negotiations were part of the conversation and a compromise could not be reached in that area.
“You might take a moment to entertain the idea that things are more complex than they appear in a world of emojis and tweets,” Graziano wrote in the comments section of Giddish’s Instagram post. “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,” Graziano added. “I’m saddened by her looming exit. It’ll be my lucky day if I ever get to write for her again.”
Peter Scanavino’s character, Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr., began a romantic relationship with Rollins at the end of last season. Producer Julie Martin promised fans via Twitter that the couple “will have a happy ending” before Giddish exits the show sometime in the upcoming season.
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years Check out these memorable photos of "Law & Order: SVU" star Kelli Giddish through the years. (Robin Marchant/Getty Images for AT&T)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2009: Actors Tyler Labine, Kelli Giddish and Matthew Morrison attend Fox's Upfront presentation at New York City Center on May 18, 2009, in New York City. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Fox)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2010: Actress Kelli Giddish attends the 2010 NBC Upfront presentation at the Hilton Hotel on May 17, 2010, in New York City. (Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2011: Kelli Giddish attends Rolling Stone's "Do You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star?" cover reveal party at the Empire Hotel Rooftop on August 3, 2011, in New York City. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2012: Actor/rapper Ice-T, actor Danny Pino, actress Kelli Giddish, actor Dan Florek, creator/executive producer Dick Wolf, actor Richard Belzer and actress Mariska Hargitay pose for a photo at the "Law And Order: SVU" 300 Episodes Celebration at Chelsea Piers on September 17, 2012, in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2013: Actors Kelli Giddish and Danny Pino attend 2013 NBC Upfront Presentation Red Carpet Event at Radio City Music Hall on May 13, 2013, in New York City. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2014: Kelli Giddish (left) and Debra Messing attend the Joyful Heart Foundation Presents: The Joyful Revolution Gala 10th Anniversary Celebration at Cipriani, 42nd Street on May 29, 2014, in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Joyful Heart Foundation)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2015: Peter Scanavino and Kelli Giddish attend the 2015 NBC Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2015, in New York City. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2016: Actors Peter Scanavino, Kelli Giddish, Robert John Burke, Mariska Hargitay and Danny Pino attend the Joyful Revolution Gala hosted by Mariska Hargitay's Joyful Heart Foundation at David Geffen Hall on May 10, 2016, in New York City. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Joyful Heart Foundation)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2017: Kelli Giddish and husband Lawrence Faulborn attend the cocktail party of the 57th Monte Carlo TV Festival at the Monaco Palace on June 18, 2017, in Monte Carlo, Monaco. (Festival-Olivier Huitel/ PLS Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2018: Kelli Giddish attends the "Law & Order: SVU" 20th Anniversary Celebration the 2018 Tribeca TV Festival at Spring Studios on September 20, 2018, in New York City. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca TV)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2019: Kelli Giddish attends the "Law & Order: SVU" Television Milestone Celebration at the Paley Center for Media on September 25, 2019, in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Photos: Kelli Giddish through the years 2022: Kelli Giddish attends NBC's "Law & Order" Press Junket at Studio 525 on February 16, 2022, in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)