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Mariska Hargitay expressed her disappointment over the decision by “Law & Order: SVU” creator Dick Wolf to cut a kissing scene between her and co-star Christopher Meloni.
In a recent conversation with the Hollywood Reporter, Hargitay reflected on a scene from Season 24 where her character, Olivia Benson, was scripted to kiss Elliot Stabler, played by Meloni. She revealed that Wolf opted for an alternate take where the characters only came close to kissing.
“We believed that the moment was well-earned and that it was time for it to happen, even if just briefly,” Hargitay shared.
“Wouldn’t you have loved to witness that firsthand? Absolutely,” she added with enthusiasm.
Despite filming several versions of the scene, Hargitay noted that Wolf and the show’s editors ultimately chose to broadcast the version where the characters shared an almost-kiss instead of the actual kiss.
Hargitay, 62, and Meloni, 65, “disagreed” with that decision.
“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,” Hargitay told THR.
She added, “[But] no matter what I want, Dick Wolf can totally just say, ‘Uh, no.’”
Meloni previously addressed the deleted kissing scene between Benson and Stabler, who have had a “will they or won’t they” relationship on the NBC series, during TVLine Spotlight conversation last year.
“We were attempting something. I don’t think it worked,” he admitted. “But I’m not going to tell you why it didn’t work, because you all have your opinion.”
Off-screen, both actors are happily married. Hargitay has been married to Peter Hermann since 2004 and they have three children, while Meloni and Doris Sherman Williams have been married since 1995 and share two children.
Hargitay and Meloni joined “Law & Order: SVU” in 1999. Meloni left the show in 2011 and reprised his character for the “Law & Order: Organized Crime” spinoff, which was recently canceled after five seasons.
In her THR interview, Hargitay said it’s “possible” that Meloni could come back to “SVU.”
“At some point? I mean, anything’s possible. Yes,” she said. “The answer to that is he and I are not … it’s not done.”
After the spinoff was canceled, Meloni teared up while thanking fans for their support.
“I wanted to take this moment to say thank you to the fans, who not only helped give the character of Elliot Stabler life and longevity, but for sticking with him and welcoming him back,” he shared in the April 16 Instagram clip.
The Emmy nominee also said he had a “good ride” playing Stabler for nearly 17 years.