Ice-T ‘Not Concerned’ About Less Screen Time in Season 27 of SVU: ‘So Many Other Things on My Plate’ (Exclusive)
The actor-musician has been a cast member on ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ since 2000
Ice-T isn’t sweating his reduced screen time on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
The actor and musician, 67, caught up with PEOPLE at the Law & Order 25th Anniversary Celebration in New York City on Jan. 6, when he reflected on his character Odafin “Fin” Tutuola being “sprinkled throughout” season 27.
Ice-T previously revealed that his lesser screen time was connected to the return of costar Kelli Giddish, calling it “basically business” and citing budgetary reasons.
While speaking with PEOPLE, he explains that he “wasn’t really concerned with them working me less because I got so many other things on my plate.”
“But I’m just more concerned with getting to season 28,” Ice-T says. “You know, that’s what I want to do. So if they feel that that’s what they needed to do this year, I’m cool, you know what I’m saying? But Kelli came back, they got new cops in there and stuff, but it’s never gonna be the same without Fin up in there, you know what I’m saying? They need a little funk up in there.”
Still, Fin is “back” as Ice-T appears in several episodes this season. “When we come back, I’m in some and then I think I’ll be in a lot near the end of the season,” he says. “So we’ve got some good stuff to look forward to.”
Giddish, 45, rejoined the show as Sgt. Amanda Rollins in October 2025. She departed in December 2022 in the middle of its 24th season, before guest-starring in seasons 25 and 26.
Ice-T later explained to TMZ in a video shared in November that the show itself “couldn’t really keep both of us on full-time, as far as budget-wise” amid her return. “So they said, Ice, we’ll have you come in and out this year, that way we could bring… Everybody wanted Kelli back, and we’ve got new cops and stuff like that,” he said.
He assured fans he’s “not leaving” the show, which he joined in 2000 as part of its second season. “I’ve been on this show for 27 years. I’m not gonna say nothing negative about that show. They’ve taken care of me for so long,” Ice-T said. “So I just want to get to season 28.”
The latest arrangement, he added, also gave him a chance “to do other projects” on the side, as he encouraged fans to not “worry” about his status on SVU.
“I’m kind of glad the fans are upset,” he joked. “Because what if I was missing and nobody cared? That would be something to worry about. But the fact that the fans wanted to see a little bit more of Fin, that’s good. But I’m gonna be sprinkled throughout this season.”
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
