Ice-T Says Reduced ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Screen Time Is Due to Budget Amid Kelli Giddish’s Return

No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you: Ice-T’s Fin Tutuloa has been pretty MIA on season 27 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — and there’s a reason.

via: Variety

After Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T has been on the Dick Wolf series the longest, joining the show in Season 2 in 2000. However, he’s only appeared in four of the eight episodes this year.

“It’s just basically business. They brought Kelli back. At the end of the day, they couldn’t keep both of us on both times, as far as budget-wise,” Ice-T said during a recent interview with TMZ, referring to Kelli Giddish, who portrayed detective Amanda Rollins from seasons 13 to 24, when she was written off. She returned full-time for Season 27, something that Hargitay fought for.

“They said, ‘Ice, we’ll have you come in and out this year.’ 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 continued. “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.”

He added that the free time has allowed him to do “other things,” like work on new music.

“Don’t worry about me. I am kind of glad the fans are upset. What if I was missing and nobody cared?” he added. “I will be sprinkled throughout this season.”

At the end of Season 26, Juliana Martinez and Octavio Pisano exited the show. Aimé Donna Kelly was upped to series regular as Captain Curry and Noma Dumezweni joined as a recurring guest. Returning cast members also included Peter Scanavino and Kevin Kane.

Wolf executive produces with Hargitay, Kenneth Brown, Anastasia Puglisi and Peter Jankowski. Michele Fazekas joined as showrunner and executive producer for Season 27.