Why is Christopher Meloni leaving Law and Order SVU?

Christopher Meloni did not leave Law & Order: SVU, but he did leave the show in 2011 after 12 seasons playing Detective Elliot Stabler. He did not leave due to any major conflict or bad blood. His contract was up, and he and the network couldn't agree on a salary.

However, Meloni returned to the SVU universe in 2021 with his own spin-off series, "Law & Order: Organized Crime." This brought Elliot Stabler back into the fold and allowed him to reconnect with his former partner Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay).

So, while Meloni left SVU for a period of time, it wasn't a permanent departure. He simply took a break and returned with his own show within the same franchise.