S.W.A.T. Alumni Discuss Their Exclusion from Shemar Moore’s Spinoff

Shemar Moore was the sole cast member cast in the S.W.A.T. spinoff — but what do the others think about being left out?

S.W.A.T. debuted in 2017, garnering a loyal fanbase as viewers tuned in weekly to watch the 20 Squad tackle various crises. While the cast changed throughout the seasons, Moore, Jay Harrington, David Lim, and Patrick St. Esprit remained as central figures amidst multiple cancellations.

By the final season, S.W.A.T. had faced cancellation twice and concluded with Moore, Harrington, Lim, and Esprit leading the cast, joined by newcomers Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh, and Niko Pepaj. The entire cast rallied for the show’s return, which materialized when Sony Pictures Television ordered a spinoff named S.W.A.T. Exiles just days after the series finale.

However, there was backlash as fans expressed confusion over why Moore was the only cast member returning. Moore addressed this controversy, explaining his decision to reprise his character solo.

“Nobody likes change. I understand that. I get it 100 percent. But without change, you can’t grow. You can’t win without taking your lumps,” he stated in a May 2025 Instagram video. “It ain’t easy making it in the game of Hollywood. It ain’t. TV shows don’t last eight years anymore. The game has changed. But S.W.A.T. Exiles, baby! S.W.A.T. Exiles. Bigger, bolder. S.W.A.T. on steroids.”

He went on to add, “I’m not saying I’m Tom Brady, but I’m the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. That’s not arrogance. That’s not ego. It’s a fact. I’m the quarterback. I’m Shemar Moore a.k.a Hondo. But I had a squad. A strong squad. A family. A team. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say out loud to the world and to them — because I know they’re watching this — I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you.”

Initially, the rest of the S.W.A.T. team remained silent on their exclusion. Lim was the first to voice his thoughts, praising his fellow cast members for their commitment to the show.

“I’m proud of how we fought for a ninth season. We believed we still had more to give, more stories to tell. We wanted it for our crew, for each other, and for the newer faces just joining us,” he shared via Instagram that month. “It wasn’t in the cards for all of us — and that’s okay. We had a magical run and went out on a high note with those final two episodes.”

Lim expressed that he wasn’t thrilled to learn about Sony Pictures Television ordering S.W.A.T. Exiles with only Moore slated to appear.

“I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale — with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one,” he continued. “After 8 incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition — for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many.”

Other S.W.A.T. stars have since subtly commented on the surprising news. Scroll down for everything the S.W.A.T. cast has said regarding their absence from Exiles:

David Lim

“I’ve been reflecting on everything that transpired last week, and I just want to say this,” Lim, who portrayed Tan, shared on Instagram in May 2025. “Being part of S.W.A.T. for the past eight seasons has been one of the great honors of my life. I dedicated myself to portraying Tan — and even more to the team and friendships we cultivated on and off-screen.”

Lim reflected on the group’s dynamics behind the scenes, emphasizing, “What made S.W.A.T. exceptional wasn’t just the action or one character. It was the squad, the bond, the camaraderie, the shared blood, sweat, tears, and laughter we invested in every episode. That natural chemistry was present from the very first day we came together for the pilot, and it lasted through all eight seasons.”

Annie Ilonzeh

In response to Lim’s message, Ilonzeh expressed her support, writing, “Very well said, David🫶🏽🤎.” Ilonzeh, who joined the show in its final season as Gamble, previously discussed the cast’s collective efforts to revive S.W.A.T..

“We are crossing our fingers. There is a specific discussion happening. I hope I can share that we really did it. We rallied for a third time,” she told Us Weekly in April 2025. “But we’re making noise. They see it — producers and streamers that are interested — they recognize this as something worthwhile. So if we can plug and play, we’re all ready to go. We don’t want this journey to end.”

Ilonzeh noted that if S.W.A.T. were to get another renewal, a ninth season would be the concluding one, adding, “I was just talking to [my costar] Shemar [Moore] yesterday, and he mentioned, ‘If we do this for a third time — whenever we get canceled again — I’ll be fine with it. I’m not fighting for a fourth [time] because we truly did it and we end on that.’ We would conclude on a positive note, relishing every moment we’ve had. We will know that we did our job, and we can walk away content.”

Niko Pepaj

Pepaj, who also joined in the final season, commented on Lim’s post, saying, “Love you, brother.”

Jay Harrington

Harrington, who has portrayed Deacon since season 1, responded to Lim’s statement about the changes with multiple fist bump emojis.

Anna Enger Ritch

After being promoted to the main cast in the final season, Ritch sent Lim a heart emoji in support of his comments regarding the cast’s absence from the upcoming S.W.A.T. franchise entry.

Rochelle Aytes

Although Aytes previously left S.W.A.T. to join Watson, she responded to Lim’s public statement, writing, “Beautifully said!! Here’s to an amazing 8 years! May your next journey be just as incredible, if not more!! ❤️❤️🙏🏽🙏🏽.”