BTS Salary Drama That Led to Stabler Actor Leaving SVU After Season 12
Law & Order is perhaps the most well-known procedural show in the US.
It has such a cult following that it has spawned many extremely successful spinoffs, each going in a different direction but having the same DNA. One of these spinoffs is Law & Order: SVU.
The show had been going strong since 1999, making it the longest-running US live-action TV series. An impressive feat, to say the least.
Mariska Hargitay 's Olivia Benson headlines the show and, until 2011, it starred Chris Meloni as Elliot Stabler. Meloni's tenure on the show was well-received by fans and critics both. His and Hargitay's characters had undeniable chemistry and were a strong enough team to tackle Manhattan's worst offenders.
The duo was going strong for 12 seasons worth of TV, but then it all was suddenly over. In the season 12 finale, Stabler was written out of the show for good.
After a mishap involving a murder spree, Stabler was put on administrative leave and subjected to psychiatric evaluation. This effectively stopped his character from appearing again, and naturally, the decision to kick off the series' protagonist in such an anticlimactic way guaranteed backlash.
While on the show, Stabler's departure from the force was due to an impulsive decision, but behind the scenes, Meloni had different reasons to leave.
It has since been revealed that Meloni's contract had expired between seasons 12 and 13 of Law & Order: SVU, and he was in the process of renegotiating his salary. However, for reasons which are still unknown, the parties could not reach an agreement.
But Meloni stated that he does not regret taking his ball and leaving. On the contrary, he had a positive attitude regarding the entire fiasco, saying that it was the right time to move on.
He hasn't been at a loss for work, either. Since he departed from the crime drama, he has appeared in Happy!, an adult comedy, as well as Harley Quinn, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Twilight Zone. He was going from strength to strength, taking different roles and varying his acting portfolio.
However, it seems that the salary drama was eventually resolved and Meloni was called back to reprise his role as Stabler in the 22nd season of Law & Order: SVU.
After a 10-year hiatus, Stabler was reintroduced in the ninth episode of the show, aptly named "Return of the Prodigal Son". The show was watched by over 8 million people and was well-received by critics, showing everyone how vital Meloni's special touch was to the show.