Actor Shemar Moore spoke out against CBS’s decision to cancel “SWAT” after six seasons as well as one of the network’s top-rated shows, saying on Saturday, “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Moore took to Instagram to express her grievances and also admitted that doing so could get her in trouble. Still, Moore said he was hurt by the decision and hoped the powers that be would see he made the wrong choice.
“I’m a little sad. I’m a lot bit sad. We got cancelled. ‘SWAT,'” a freshly shaven Moore said in the video. “‘SWAT’ got canceled. It doesn’t make any sense. … We’re the best show for CBS on Friday nights at 8. For the last two years, we’ve been killing it.
The show’s previous season averaged 6.41 million viewers per episode in the first seven days it aired, and this season’s viewership grew to 6.82 million, placing the show among the top 20 TV dramas. according to screenrant,
“Let me tell you the truth – we are diverse,” Moore said. “Did you know I’m the only African American male lead on network television? Not streaming. Not cable. Network television. I’m the only African American male lead on network television.
CBS has been criticized for its lack of diversity, Moore said, adding that “SWAT” was the most diverse show on the network.
“When I got hired to be Hondo on ‘SWAT’ [CBS] The lack of diversity was getting a lot of criticism,” Moore said. “If I post this and I think I can, I’ll be in a lot of trouble with CBS because I’m calling them out.”
Moore said, “They’ve been wonderful to me. For 26 of my 29-year career, but to suddenly say ‘You’re canceled,’ when you’ve got us the last week and the week before and after assured us in the week before, that we would have some glimpse of season seven, at least say goodbye, if not, carry on, and all of a sudden, you’re done.”
He told his audience that there’s a lot of “politics” that went into the decision and said he’s more concerned about everyone else on set than everyone else, including the writers, directors, caterers and everyone else.
“I’m not bitter. I’m a little sad,” Moore said. “I understand it’s not personal, it’s business. But I still, I still believe ‘SWAT’ will live to see another day.”
But Moore hopes “SWAT” fans will rally and show CBS they’re opposed to leaving the show. “My brothers and my sisters make some f–king noises and tell them it’s the King’s fault for canceling SWAT.”
On Friday, the network announced that “SWAT” will end its run on CBS after six years with the finale of its current season. The episode is set to air May 19 at 8 PM ET/PT.
