Shemar Moore speaks out following Friday’s announcement that ‘SWAT’ will be canceled after six seasons and doesn’t mince words…
SWAT frontman Shemar Moore took to Instagram to express his disappointment and frustration at CBS’s decision to cancel the series in which he plays Los Angeles Police Sgt. Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson since 2017.
As Variety reports, the actor took the floor by sharing a video in which he highlights the success of SWAT, whose current (and now last) season averages 6.8 million viewers per episode.
“For CBS, for the past two years, we’ve been a hit… We’ve done nothing wrong. We did everything that was asked”, he declares.
He goes on to point out that he was the only African American male actor on television to lead a series – not counting those broadcast on streaming or cable – adding that, beyond his personal position, “SWAT is the most diverse show on CBS.”
BROKEN PROMISES
In the video, the actor reveals in particular that CBS had promised them a season seven at least to conclude the series, while giving them hope that a sequel could always take place.
CBS, when I was cast as Hondo in SWAT, was getting a lot of flak for lack of diversity. If I post this, and I believe I will, I’ll be in a lot of trouble with CBS because I call them to order. Because they’ve been wonderful to me for 26 of my 29-year career. But being abruptly told you’re canceled when you made us believe last week – and the week before, and the week before – that we’d have some semblance of season seven to at least say goodbye, or else continue. And to be suddenly told: ‘You’re done.’
Although he is personally disappointed, the actor says he is mainly worried about those who have worked and contributed to the series. “I care about my family, my team. The writers, the producers, the caterers, the costumers, the sound mixers, the teamsters, the construction crew, a whole bunch of people who are suddenly told, ‘You don’t matter. Sorry, thank you for your services. Good luck and find a new job.’ And for me, that’s not good.”
CALL FOR HELP AND BACK INTO CRIMINAL MINDS?
But Shemar Moore still has hope for the series for which he gave his all: “I’m fine but I’m upset because I broke my c… to prove I could do it, and I proved I could do it”, added the actor. “I understand it’s not personal, it’s business, but I still have faith that SWAT will live to see another day.”
The actor is now appealing to his fans to try to save the show. The latter have since taken to social media to share the hashtag #SaveSWAT.
I ask my friends, my fans and my little girls, and the rest of the world who follow me or follow the series, follow the cast, my brothers and my sisters: make some p… noise. And let them know that canceling SWAT is a b… mistake.
Will the actor’s call for help change things? Only the future will tell us. In the meantime, will he be back in Criminal Minds? That’s what you might think with the comment that accompanies the video: “Horribly sad. The perfect time to return for the next season of Criminal Minds though.” To be continued.
SWAT can be found on TF1 as well as streaming on Amazon Prime Video.