David Lim from S.W.A.T Discusses Support Following Remarks about Spinoff Drama
David Lim expressed his appreciation for the support he has received since he spoke out about how he—and the rest of the S.W.A.T. cast—were left out of Shemar Moore‘s upcoming spinoff.
“Thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and support this week,” Lim, 41, shared via Instagram Story on Friday, May 30. “I’m grateful for the journey, the people, and everything we’ve built together. Much love to our SWAT family.”
The social media post featured Lim on the CBS series set, which concluded last month after several cancellations. The two-part finale that aired in May saw the 20 Squad undertake two more rescue missions while each member reflected on their future. The ending didn’t leave any cliffhangers as the cast sought to revive the series elsewhere.
Just two days after CBS aired the S.W.A.T. finale, Sony Pictures Television revealed a spinoff starring Shemar Moore—with an entirely new cast. This decision faced criticism, especially since Lim, Jay Harrington, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh, and Niko Pepaj had all expressed interest in reprising their roles in a future project.
Moore, 55, responded to the backlash in an Instagram video, stating, “Nobody likes change. I understand that. I totally get it. But without change, you can’t grow. You can’t win without facing challenges. It’s not easy to make it in Hollywood. TV shows don’t last eight years any longer. The landscape has changed. But S.W.A.T. Exiles, baby! S.W.A.T. Exiles. Bigger, bolder. It’s like S.W.A.T. on steroids.”
In his defense, Moore likened the spinoff to a football game, adding, “I’m not claiming to be Tom Brady, but I’m the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. That’s not arrogance; it’s a reality. I’m the quarterback. I’m Shemar Moore a.k.a Hondo. But I had a strong squad—a family, a team. And I must say to them—and I know they’re watching this—I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you.”
Sony Pictures TV President Katherine Pope also commented on the potential for bringing back beloved characters, telling Variety last month, “We are clearly exploring a rich world here. We’re still piecing it all together, but you can definitely expect some familiar faces to return in one way or another.”
Pope mentioned that the shows now inhabit their own “universe,” while S.W.A.T. Exiles will provide “a bit of a take on the cultural clash between Gen X and Gen Z.”
“Hondo represents duty, hierarchy, and chain of command, while the Gen Z characters might say, ‘I need a mental health day. I want to talk about it. I want to understand,’” Pope teased about the new series. “It’s our version of Top Gun: Maverick.”
Pope went on to say: “How do we bridge not just generational divides, but all types of division? Our world is experiencing a lot of division. If we could take some time to listen and truly understand what teamwork means, it could benefit us all.”
Lim was the first—and so far, only—S.W.A.T. alum to publicly comment on the situation. Nevertheless, the rest of his former co-stars stood in solidarity with his honest remarks regarding their exclusion.
“I’d be lying if I said the announcement of the new spinoff didn’t hurt. It was difficult to see it revealed just two days after our finale—with no acknowledgment of the cast that helped build S.W.A.T. from the start,” he wrote on Instagram on Wednesday, May 28. “After eight remarkable seasons, we felt sidelined when there could have been a moment of reflection and recognition—for those who built this show and for the impact it had on many.”
