Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Say It Isn't So: Christopher Meloni Quits <em>Law & Order: SVU</em>
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published May 25, 2011
Modified May 25, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published May 25, 2011
Modified May 25, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Sad news today for fans of dedicated detectives who investigate vicious sexually-based offenses: Christopher Meloni, aka Detective Elliot Stabler, announced that he will not be returning to the next season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Will justice ever be the same?
Meloni and NBC executives "could not come to an agreement on a new contract," despite reports that the actor was offered a "generous" salary to stay onboard. Meloni has been with the show since its premiere in 1999, embodying the tough-loving Detective Stabler for over 270 episodes. As Mindy Kaling put it in via Twitter: "HOW CAN CHRIS MELONI LEAVE LAW & ORDER SVU BEFORE WE'VE SEEN THEM RIP THE DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN STORY FROM THE HEADLINES?? #notfair."
The news comes on the heels of some other casting drama for the show, with rumors that Jennifer Love Hewitt might replace Meloni's co-star Mariska Hargitay, who re-signed her contract but is cutting her time on the show to spend more time with her family.
While "SVU" will never be the same, we'd like to take a moment to relive the glory days, in puppet form:
Tagged
christopher meloni
elliot stabler
l&o
law & order: SVU
no
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 3:17 p.m. ET
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Arts & Entertainment
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .