'Law & Order: SVU': Two Cast Exits In Season 23 Premiere

Shocking news just dropped for fans of Law & Order: SVU. The series will enter season 23 in just a few weeks, and the premiere episode will see not one but two cast members exit the show!

Those stars were revealed in a new Deadline report, and one of the actors has also now addressed the news. Clearly, there are spoilers involved. So, if you want to learn which two SVU stars are leaving, please click through the gallery slides here to find out.

Let's get it out of the way: the two stars exiting SVU are relative newcomers and none of the show's headline actors like Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, and Kelli Giddish.

Nonetheless, up first, fans will still be sad to see actress Jamie Gray Hyder exit the show. Her "Kat" debuted in season 21 and was a full-time member of the unit last season. But she is one of the two characters exiting in the new season.

Joining "Kat" in the cuts from SVU is actor Demore Barnes, who plays "Christian Garland." He also debuted in season 21 before appearing full-time last season, but "Garland" and "Kat" are unfortunately on the way out on premiere day.

SVU season 23 premieres on Sept. 23. In the two-hour special, Deadline reported that "Kat" will be involved in a search for a missing witness, which leads her down a "dangerous path." Meanwhile, "Garland" will have an issue with "loyalty" in a case with "Benson."

It appears these conflicts will lead to the "Kat" and "Garland" exits.

Jamie Gray Hyder has also reacted to the disappointing news, and she wants fans to know it wasn't her decision to leave the series. "The decision was made above my pay grade. And wouldn't have been my choice. But hey - that's show biz for ya," she tweeted.

"To anyone who felt represented by any part of Kat’s being or mission, please know that you will always have representation in me," she added. "Thank you to the SVUniverse for welcoming me with open arms. It's been an experience that I have grown from greatly. And will never forget."

Despite the farewells, Law & Order: SVU heads into season 23 on Thursday, Sept. 23. Longtime stars like Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T are back for the new season on NBC.

While fans are saddened by the "Kat" and "Garland" news, they are also calling for more "Barba" (Raul Esparza) and possibly "Stabler" (Christopher Meloni) in the new season. So we'll see if that ends up happening.

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