Shemar Moore, legendary for his role as Sgt. Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson in S.W.A.T., faced disappointing news in March 2025 when CBS canceled the show—for the third time. But Moore’s response was anything but defeatist. He stood strong, calling himself “no quitter,” and rallied support to keep the spirit of S.W.A.T. alive.
Cancelled… Again: The Rollercoaster of S.W.A.T.
-
After premiering in 2017, S.W.A.T. was canceled in May 2023, brought back within days thanks to fan outcry, renewed for Season 8 in April 2024—but finally pulled again in March 2025 despite averaging over 8 million viewers per episodethesun.co.uk+15people.com+15ew.com+15popculture.com+4theblast.com+4hellomagazine.com+4.
-
CBS executives cited behind‑the-scenes issues like licensing and economics—not ratings—as key cancelation drivers people.com.
Shemar Moore’s Emotional Reaction and Speech to Crew
-
Moore posted on Instagram: “It sucks… three weeks away from the finale and we are canceled—again.” He told his crew, “nothing I can say to make this sound good,” but urged pride—“we defied the odds”theblast.com+5people.com+5tvinsider.com+5.
-
He honored his team as “the most amazing crew in Hollywood… good people,” and thanked CBS for supporting his career for 31 years en.wikipedia.org+15upi.com+15daytimeconfidential.com+15.
Declaring “No Quitter”: Moore’s Resilient Spirit
-
Shemar declared: “my momma didn’t raise NO QUITTER!!!” and reaffirmed his unwavering determination to fight for the show’s future decider.com+15thesun.co.uk+15hellomagazine.com+15.
-
He emphasized his readiness—“my knees are ready, I lost 20 pounds”—and said the fight continues theblast.com.
A Call to the Streaming Giants: “Hey Netflix…”
-
Moore urged Netflix, where Seasons 1–7 have ranked #1, to revive the series: “If you’re interested… we’d love to come play,” he said, adding invitations to NBC, Fox, ABC as well people.com+5decider.com+5popculture.com+5.
-
His campaign sparked immediate buzz, with fans rallying behind hashtags and posts pushing for a network or streamer save .
Why Moore Believes S.W.A.T. Deserves a Second Life
-
He highlighted the show’s success—“We made a hit television show that the world loved to watch”—and underscored its strong performance on streaming justjared.com+4upi.com+4popculture.com+4.
-
He also pointed to its value as CBS’s only African-American male-led series in prime-time, offering both diversity and mass appeal .
What Comes Next: S.W.A.T. Exiles and Beyond
-
Sony quickly announced S.W.A.T. Exiles, a 10-episode spinoff with Moore returning as Hondo, set to start production summer 2025 popculture.com+13en.wikipedia.org+13cinemablend.com+13.
-
Moore promised fans: “WE DON’T LOSE!!! ROLL SWAT!!!” and invited viewers to follow the next chaptertheblast.com+5collider.com+5reddit.com+5.
Fan Reactions: Pride, Determination, Hope
-
Subreddits and Twitter lit up with support for Moore’s stand, admiring his genuine, leader-like reactionreddit.com+4cinemablend.com+4people.com+4.
-
Support came from cast and crew too—showrunner Andrew Dettman and creator Shawn Ryan praised Moore and the team’s hard work and heartfelt effort en.wikipedia.org+12people.com+12tvinsider.com+12.
Final Take
Even faced with a third cancelation, Shemar Moore proved he’s far from done. With a fierce declaration of “no quitter” energy, gratitude to his team, and a rallying cry to networks and fans alike, Moore’s determination shines as bright as Hondo’s. Between the new spinoff S.W.A.T. Exiles and a potential streaming revival, this fight isn’t over—it’s just beginning.
❓ FAQs
1. Why was S.W.A.T. canceled the third time?
CBS cited licensing and financial issues, not ratings—the show averaged over 8 million viewershellomagazine.com+7people.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7.
2. What did Shemar Moore say when it was canceled?
He posted emotionally on Instagram, called his crew “amazing,” and declared himself “no quitter” while urging his team to be proud .
3. Could the show be picked up elsewhere?
Moore invited Netflix, NBC, Fox, and ABC to revive it. Netflix had previously seen Seasons 1–7 reach #1 on its platformtheblast.com+2decider.com+2collider.com+2.
4. What is S.W.A.T. Exiles?
A 10-episode spinoff from Sony Pictures featuring Moore as Hondo mentoring a new squad. Production is expected in summer 2025 en.wikipedia.org+1cinemablend.com+1.
5. How have fans and crew reacted?
Fans and cast praised Moore’s resilience and leadership; showrunner Andrew Dettman called the shutdown “heartbreaking” and celebrated the crew’s passion reddit.com.
Custom Message:
Shemar Moore proves you can bend, but you don’t break. ‘No quitter’ isn’t just words—it’s a promise. #RollSWAT
