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Ice-T says that the fans "had a lot to do with bringing" Kelli Giddish back for 'Law & Order: SVU' season 27

By Sophia Soto | Last updated Aug 30, 2025 12:51 PM ET

Ice-T is opening up about Kelli Giddish's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit return as a series regular for season 27 after leaving the show in season 24 and only reprising her role since in a guest star capacity.

SVU follows the lives of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, an elite squad of detectives who investigate crimes of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. 

"It's great," he told Entertainment Weekly. "I love everybody that ever worked on the show; I never had a bad day with any of the costars or guest stars," the actor explained before adding, "Kelli is a sweetheart."

While it was announced that the squad will be losing Octavio Pisano and Juliana Martinez, who portrayed Detective Joe Velasco and Detective Kate Silva, Pisano will be coming back to appear in the season premiere, according to Deadline.

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"The way they shuffle the deck on SVU, nobody really knows what's going on," Ice-T continued to comment. "[Mariska Hargitay] missed her — Kelli. I think the fans missed her. The fans had a lot to do with bringing her back."

Hargitay executive produces and plays Captain Olivia Benson, the longest-running female character in a primetime live-action television series. Peter Scanavino and Kevin Kane also star in the Dick Wolf-created drama.

"I love Kelli. Kelli became a really close person to me. So when they said they were bringing her back, I was overwhelmed, happy," he concluded.

The longest-running live-action primetime series in the history of American TV is back as part of NBC's fall lineup on Thursday, September 25 at 9 PM ET, sharing the night with Law & Order and Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Sophia Soto

Sophia Soto is a writer and interviewer with a passion for all things entertainment. She is a Senior Reporter at The Nerds of Color and contributes to Yardbarker, Screensphere, Den of Geek, What to Watch, Nerdtropolis, and Temple of Geek. You can see her past work on Remezcla, Young Hollywood, Looper, Paste Magazine, Primetimer, Soundsphere, and Starry Constellation Magazine

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