Ice-T Explains Why His Role on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Was Reduced This Season

Fans of Law & Order: SVU had been wondering why Ice-T’s Sgt. Fin Tutuola character has been less involved in season 27, and the rapper-actor has explained the reasoning behind his screen time being cut.

Ice, who has been on Law & Order since 2000’s season two, essentially chalked the reduced role this season to a “business” decision, as SVU brought back Det. Amanda Rollins, who is played by Kelli Giddish.

“It’s just basically business,” Ice-T told TMZ in an interview published Monday (Nov. 24). “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. 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.”

However, SVU die-hards and the Fin hive can breathe easy, as he isn’t expected to be phased out of the series. Show organizers told Ice that they “can’t imagine” NBC’s long-running procedural drama without him.

Ice-T continued: “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 & Order without you.’ 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.”

The 67-year-old has appeared in four of the eight episodes thus far in season 27. Early in the season, Fin was jumped by two men and a woman after being set up by the crew, with the woman pretending she was being sexually assaulted. Fin was hospitalized from the beating and took a leave of absence to deal with the trauma from the altercation.

Ice-T also explained that the free time has allowed him to pursue other endeavors, such as focusing on music andmaking AI-generated photos. “Don’t worry about me. I am kind of glad the fans are upset,” he said. “What if I was missing and nobody cared? I will be sprinkled throughout this season.”

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs on NBC and streams on Peacock.