Why stabler left

Not wanting to comply, Elliot retires and leaves Olivia on her own. In the end, actor Christopher Meloni 's departure from the show came down to a contract dispute that arose as he reportedly tried to increase his salary for season 13 and beyond.

We're all big boys and girls here. See you later. Telling the stories I wanted to tell," Christopher revealed. But she [Mariska] and I, we stayed connected. Even still, Christopher acknowledges that the news was tough on Mariska, who told the publication that she was "devastated" when she learned what had happened behind the scenes.

Elliot's departure in season 12 left a sour taste in many fans' mouths, especially considering that the character had been on the series for 12 years. According to what Christopher told TVLine one year after his character's unceremonious write-off, he also wasn't thrilled with the way SVU handled things. And I'm sure there were echoes, constant reminders, everywhere.

But for me, it was about how things fell out—and the word I'll use is that it was inelegant. At the end of the day, how it was handled was, 'Okay, see you later. We're all big boys and girls here. See you later. Telling the stories I wanted to tell.

I couldn't have been happier. Christopher Meloni was quick to acknowledge how difficult his departure must have been on Mariska Hargitay, but also noted how he was able to leave with a sense of peace after how everything went down during his contract negotiations. It sounds as though he was left with the feeling that his requirements to sign up for continued adventures as Elliot Stabler were at least a little bit dismissed, and possibly had him go on his way with the idea that those behind the show at time time, anyway felt like they didn't need Stabler in order to continue.

Of course, everyone who loved watching Hargitay and Meloni together back in the day probably knows that while the actors weren't working on SVU anymore, they remained close buddies off camera. Going into Season 13, actor Christopher Meloni departed the show, and thus Stabler was written off in the season premiere, "Scorched Earth.

An Internal Affairs investigation was opened due to Stabler's other shooting incidents. Captain Cragen Dann Florek informed Benson that if Stabler did indeed return, he had to undergo psychological evaluations and counseling. The episode ended with the revelation that Stabler opted to retire instead of returning to work, emotionally devastating Benson.

He had also been investigating international crimes, including terrorism and organized crime. After his wife Kathy was severely wounded in a car bombing, he partnered with Benson again to solve the case.