Mariska Hargitay Confirms A Benson & Stabler Kiss Scene Was Filmed

Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay has revealed that a kiss between Benson & Stabler was filmed.

SVU, an American police procedural television series largely built around New York investigators handling sexually-based crimes, premiered in 1999 as the first spinoff of Law & Order. It was created by Dick Wolf, and it’s now into its 27th season, with nearly 600 episodes to date. It holds the record as the longest-running prime-time live-action scripted series in U.S. television history.

While on The Hollywood Reporter‘s Awards Chatter podcast, which was filmed in front of a live audience, Hargitay (Olivia Benson) confirmed that in season 24, there was a scene between Benson and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) that was shot in more than one version, including a version with an actual kiss. Hargitay believed that, “this moment was earned, that this thing could happen for a second – and so that’s how we shot it.”

Hargitay’s comment was followed by a large reaction from the audience, and she followed up by saying, “Don’t you wish you were there for that?! Yeah. We shot it a couple different ways. And then they [Wolf and others] had the choice in editing, and they [opted to use the near-kiss version rather than the kiss.]

Previously, all that fans knew about why Stabler and Benson didn’t kiss, was that there was a discussion that took place, Meloni and Hargitay believed it should have happened, but Wolf had the final decision. It confirms that the kiss wasn’t a fan idea, or a theoretical possibility, but rather a big moment that got pulled back before the final edits.

For years, debate around Benson and Stabler has centered on how the franchise could handle their relationship moving forward. Hargitay’s new account confirms that both she and Meloni disagreed with the ultimate decision. She said, “We [she and Meloni] disagreed. We disagreed because we thought that it was earned and the way it was dealt with was really complex and very beautiful and very human and showed the complexity of their relationship and all the different ways that they’re connected … [But] no matter what I want, Dick Wolf can totally just say, ‘Uh, no.'”

Although a Benson & Stabler romance had been widely talked about, nothing is confirmed moving forward, and it’s yet to be seen if Stabler will return to the show. On April 16, 2026, it was officially announced that Stabler’s spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime, had been canceled after five seasons.

Four days ago as of this writing, Meloni posted pictures of him and Hargitay on his Instagram, saying, “What one does on a random Thursday when still in LA and freshly unemployed. Dinner hang with pals.” Many highly liked fans’ comments expressed a desire to see Stabler return to SVU.

With Law & Order: SVU season 28 already confirmed, Hargitay’s revelation arrives at a notable time for the franchise. Since Organized Crime has been canceled, and with Meloni now on board for another show, Hulu’s The Land, it may complicate a hopeful Stabler return, though it doesn’t rule one out down the line.

Law & Order: SVU releases new episodes on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.