On a Law & Order: SVU Romance: IT'S WORTH EXPLORING!

The Law & Order franchise star weighs in on fans' longtime hope that Benson and Stabler will finally hook up.

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Should they or shouldn't they? For decades, Law & Order: SVU fans have been clamoring for Christopher Meloni's TV alter ego, Det. Elliot Stabler, to get together with Capt. Olivia Benson, played by his longtime co-star and friend Mariska Hargitay. "I don't know if Benson and Stabler should have a romantic relationship," confesses the 63-year-old, "but I know it is worth exploring where they are emotionally." Here, the actor - who shares daughter Sophia, 23, and son Dante, 20, with his production designer wife of 29 years, Sherman Williams- talks to In Touch's Fortune Benatar about the hit franchise he returned to in 2021 after a 10-year absence (he currently stars in the spinoff Law & Order: Organized Crime but crosses over to SVU), his involvement with Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) and his favorite emoji.

Why are you on the fence about Stabler and Benson getting romantically involved?

CM: Because it is a difficult and conflicted situation for each of them..