Jamie Gray Hyder, who portrayed Kat Tamin on Law & Order: SVU since 2019, shared details on why her character won’t be returning for Season 23. Hyder joined the cast in Season 21 alongside Demore Barnes, who played Deputy Chief Christian Garland. For Season 22, both actors were promoted to series regulars, but that looks to change with the premiere of Season 23 later this month. It was recently revealed that neither Hyder nor Barnes would be coming back for the newest season of Law & Order: SVU and that their departures will be explained in the season premiere.
Following the announcement that Kat Tamin won’t be returning to Law & Order: SVU, Hyder took to Twitter to give some context. She started by saying, “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm Kat’s departure from the squad room.” Hyder then mentions that she didn’t have much control over it, saying, “The decision was made above my paygrade and wouldn’t have been my choice.” She continued by highlighting the representation her character brought to the show before thanking the fans for welcoming her with open arms. Check out Hyder’s Tweet below:
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Hyder’s comments about representation stem from Tamin being the first LGBTQ officer on the show. B.D. Wong’s Dr. George Huang was the first character to represent the LGBTQ community until his departure in Season 12, but he was not one of the officers.
However, Law & Order: SVU is the longest-running primetime live-action series, so cast turnover is nothing new. Even series mainstays like Christopher Meloni’s Elliot Stabler have left the show after long stints. Meloni eventually returned to the series to reprise his role as Stabler, but whether that is possible for Hyder remains to be seen. Audiences will get their first taste of Season 23 and some possible clues about Tamin’s departure when Law & Order: SVU returns later this month.
