Shemar Moore broke his silence after announcing that he was starring in a S.W.A.T spinoff — without the rest of his original cast members.
Moore, 55, took to Instagram on Tuesday, May 20, to share a video where he acknowledged he could “catch some flack from the industry” with his decision to sign on to join S.W.A.T. Exiles with a new group of cast members after wrapping up season 8 with costars Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh and Niko Pepaj.
“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,” Moore explained. “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.”
Moore went on to compare making a show to playing football.
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“I’m not saying I’m Tom Brady, but I’m the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. That’s not arrogant. That’s not ego. It’s a fact. I’m the quarterback. I’m Shemar Moore AKA Hondo,” he continued. “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.”
In the lengthy video, Moore called out his casemates, adding, “That’s my family for life, OK? But just like in sports, Tom Brady might be the quarterback, but people get traded. Tight ends get traded, the running back gets traded, the receivers get traded.”
He continued: “But the team keeps on pushing with their quarterback, and I’m that guy. So proud, so grateful. I’m not going to apologize for nothing. Busted my ass for 31 years to do what I do, and I’m excited about the future.”
Before Sony Pictures Television picked S.W.A.T up for a spinoff, the show faced multiple cancellations at CBS. The CBS series premiered in 2017 and aired six seasons before it was picked up for a seventh and final season. CBS ultimately reversed that decision and S.W.A.T. returned for season 8. But the celebration didn’t last long — the network canceled the show for a second time in March.
The series finale aired on Friday, May 16, and just two days later Moore confirmed he would be headlining a follow-up series for Sony Television Pictures where his character “is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits,” according to the synopsis.
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S.W.A.T fans, however, were quick to point out in the comments section of Moore’s post that the rest of the cast from the CBS series wasn’t included. Most of Moore’s costars have yet to publicly acknowledge him expanding the S.W.A.T universe solo.
“I’m excited that S.W.A.T. gets to keep playing ball. I’m excited that the crew gets to put food on their table and money in their accounts, and go to soccer practice and put their kids through the right schools. Saving jobs, working here in L.A., keeping Hollywood in L.A. This is a big deal,” he continued on Tuesday. “Yeah, a little bit bittersweet in some ways — but man, at the end of the day, we got to be so proud. We got to be so proud because we did the damn thing. The world took notice. And the industry took notice.”
He concluded: “Shows get cancelled all the time, but S.W.A.T. just won’t die because y’all love S.W.A.T. You all love that crazy action. You love the stories. You love the brotherhood, the sisterhood, all of that. That’s who we are. That’s who S.W.A.T. is. Thrill ride with heart. So, on this day, we celebrate, but we pay homage to what got us there and to the people that got us there, and I will never forget. Always appreciate, and always show love.”
