Why did Swamp People replace the cast? Fans, former cast deal with ongoing fallout

RELATED: Fired Swamp People cast vent at History Channel, then they’re asked to remove their comments

Swamp People Season Seven: Is History renewing the show after all?

Why was most of the Swamp People cast replaced without warning before Swamp People Season 7 began airing last week? That’s the question many of the show’s fans are asking, in light of Swamp People cast replacements brought about by a new production company that took charge of the show last year. Thanks to recent comments by former and current members of the Swamp People cast, though, we know that at least one of the old guard will be making something of a comeback this season–and that there’s a chance that the whole Swamp People cast could reunite for a Season 8.

Eight members of the Swamp People cast–including Gator Queen Liz Cavalier, Jessica Cavalier, and Willie and Junior Edwards–were released from Swamp People following a mysterious announcement from Original Media, the show’s new production company, which gave no warning to the fired cast save a terse e-mail. The cast vented its frustrations on social media, but the decision was not reversed. Last week, though, shortly before the Season 7 premiere, Jacob Landry took to Facebook and suggested that strong ratings might be enough to get the show renewed for another season, potentially featuring members of the old Swamp People cast.

Original Media remains silent on the matter, so there’s still no official word on why the Swamp People cast was replaced at all. In addition, the show remains very popular ratings-wise; fans are mystified as to why the show is being canceled after Season 7 at all. At least one major petition to keep the Swamp People cast intact for the remainder of the season appears to be gathering slow steam–as of this writing, it’s got just short of 2,000 signatures, which is more than double the total it asked for. (You can sign the “Keep Swamp People cast petition here.)

It’s probably worth pointing out, though, that Original Media was involved in a labor dispute with the Swamp People writers just under a year ago, shortly before the Swamp People cast changes were decided upon. A New Orleans Times-Picayune article from April of 2015 details the charges the writers levvied against Original Media, among them that the company “failed to write checks for tens of thousands of dollars worth of overtime pay” and refused “to the bargaining table on various union issues.” That lawsuit, combined with long-standing rumors about the Swamp People cast demanding higher salaries, has lent credence to the theory that Original Media simply decided that the show had become more trouble than it was worth, and decided to wring one more season out of the participants before folding up the proverbial tent.

While no one can say for sure if Swamp People cast demands played a part in the reorganization, a defensive Facebook post from Junior and Willie Edwards suggests that money was involved at some level:

Junior and Willie are perhaps the most active former Swamp People cast members on social media. They recently revealed a surprising spoiler about their own involvement in Swamp People Season 7:

They’ve also been profuse with their thanks for the fans who’ve stuck by:

For now, you can still check out new episodes of Swamp People Monday nights at 9 PM EST on History.

(Photo credits: Swamp People cast via Facebook)