Is Deputy Chief Garland Returning to 'SVU'?
Updated March 22 2022, 2:09 p.m. ET
Season 23 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has mostly gone on without Deputy Chief Christian Garland (Demore Barnes) after a dramatic exit during the season premiere. But it looks like the actor is making a comeback.
Garland got into big trouble after being deposed for the Jayvon Brown case. After the deposition, Garland also showed some signs indicating that his health might also be in jeopardy. After his departure, SVU fans were certain they'd seen the last of him. Here's what we know.
Is Deputy Chief Garland returning to the SVU squad?
Actor Demore Barnes joined the rest of the SVU cast in 2019 and was quickly promoted to series regular for Season 22. In the episode “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing,” Chief Garland was deposed for the Jayvon Brown case. Fans will recall the episode “Guardians and Gladiators” in which Jayvon, a Black man, was arrested for murder with no real evidence against him, which later led him to sue the NYPD.
Though Garland departed in the Season 23 premiere, TV Line reports that he will soon return to the series. He is set to return in an upcoming episode, but further details on what this will look like have not been released.
Deputy Chief Garland actor Demore Barnes confirmed his series exit ahead of the Season 23 premiere of 'SVU.'
In early September, showrunners announced that both Demore and Jamie Gray Hyder, who plays Detective Katriona “Kat” Azar Tamin, are leaving the series and will make their final appearances in the Season 23 premiere. Both Demore and Jamie expressed that they were just as shocked by the news as viewers and have since addressed their departure from the SVU cast on social media.
Demore, who recently experienced a family tragedy, thanked fans for support as he focuses on his personal life. The SVU actor tweeted a message that read, "Try as we may, there is never a good time for us to bare [sic] or receive bad news," he began. Just prior to filming my final day on the show, my wife and I learned of the death of her dad. So, I will take a few days to prepare my personal statement regarding the show's recent news."
After his short-lived run on the show, fans are looking forward to seeing Garland again, even if only as a guest for one additional episode.