Shemar Moore Swats at CBS for ‘S.W.A.T.’ Cancellation: ‘A F–king Mistake’

Shemar Moore on S.W.A.T. (Credit: CBS)

A day after CBS announced S.W.A.T. would end after six seasons, series star Shemar Moore addressed the cancellation, saying the network is making a “f–king mistake.”

Moore posted a video on Instagram Saturday to let fans know he was disappointed the network decided not to move forward with the series.

“I’m a little bit sad,” the actor said. “S.W.A.T. got canceled. It makes no sense. Look up the articles, read the articles. We’re the best show on Friday nights at 8 o’clock for CBS. The last two years we’ve been killing it, us and the fire show [Fire Country], that comes on right after us, and respect to those brothers and sisters.”

Related Story: ‘S.W.A.T.’ Canceled After 6 Seasons on CBS

As previously reported, ratings were not the reason for the cancellation. This season S.W.A.T has been averaging 6.8 million total viewers and a 0.7 rating, up about six percent in viewers from season 5, according to Nielsen figures.

Instead, costs and economics were the main factors in the decision to end the series.

“We’ve done nothing wrong. We did everything that was asked,” Moore said.

[Watch the video below]

S.W.A.T. premiered in 2017 and centers on LAPD Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Moore) and his team of highly-trained men and women as they solve crimes in Los Angeles.

Moore noted that the series features a diverse cast and brings something rare to network TV.

“Did you know that I am the only African-American male lead on network television, not streaming, not cable — network television,” he said. “NCIS: Los Angeles, LL Cool J, Chris O’Donnell, respect, much respect. LL wasn’t number one [on the call sheet], Chris O’Donnell was. But LL is a beast. Don’t get it twisted, don’t mix my words.”

Related Story: ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ Canceled – Will to End With 2-Part Series Finale

Moore praised Angela Bassett, who leads the cast of 9-1-1, which was recently canceled by Fox and picked up by ABC.

“Now, let’s get beyond me,” Moore continued. “When I got hired to be Hondo on S.W.A.T., CBS was getting a lot of flack for lack of diversity. If I post this, and I think I might, I will get in a lot of trouble with CBS because I’m calling them out.”

The Young & the Restless alum said CBS had been “wonderful” to him for most of his 29-year career.

“But to abruptly get told that you’re canceled when you led us to believe last week, and the week before, and the week before that, that we would have some semblance of a season 7 to at least say goodbye, if not continue, and to abruptly be told, ‘You’re done,’ there’s a lot of politics,” he said.

The actor confirmed the decision to end the series was financial.

“It’s all about money. They said we’re done. But guess what, I don’t think we’re done. CBS is either going to wake up and realize they made a mistake. Sony [the show’s co-producer] is going to do their math and realize that this is not the right move.”

He went on to say 300 people work on the show and they are suddenly without jobs.

“If it is the end, life will go on. I’m not worried about me. I care about my family — my crew, the writers, the producers, the caterers, the wardrobe, the sound mixers, the teamsters, the construction crew,” he explained. “That’s a whole lot of people that are abruptly being told that you don’t matter. Sorry. Thank you for your services. Good luck in finding a new job. To me, that’s not OK.”

Moore urged fans to rally to save the show.

“Make some f–king noise, and let them know that canceling S.W.A.T. is a f–king mistake,” he added.

The actor concluded by saying about the cancellation, “This ain’t the way to go out. If we’re going to go out, cool. But let us go out right.”

CBS thanked the show’s cast and crew for their “incredible work” in a statement on Friday.

“For six seasons, the amazing talents of the S.W.A.T. cast led by Shemar Moore, the writers, producers and crew guided by executive producers Shawn Ryan, Andy Dettman and Aaron Rahsaan Thomas brought us compelling, action-packed episodes that also addressed important social issues and contributed to the success of our primetime lineup,” said CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach.

The final episode of S.W.A.T. is scheduled to air on May 19.

Watch the video from Shemar Moore below.


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About Anita Bennett

Anita Bennett is the editor and founder of Urban Hollywood 411. She can be reached on Twitter @tvanita.