Mariska Hargitay 'Burst Into Tears' Over 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' Cancellation

Mariska Hargitaywas emotional over the cancellation of Law & Order: Organized Crime starring her close friend Christopher Meloni.

Hargitay spoke with Extra in a video shared on Wednesday, April 22, where she shared that she "burst in to tears" when she saw Meloni's post on Instagram about the show being cancelled.

"He was so beautiful and open," she said, "It has been a great ride. It has been so beautiful and intimate and such a huge part of his life. [It] was life-changing for him."

She also expressed how the news of the show's cancellation took her by surprise.

"Chris is working and in demand, and such a magnificent actor, but it's, in a way, closing a chapter," she said. "So when that happens, one needs to take inventory, right? And it's a real marker in your life."

When asked if fans would see her and Meloni together again on screen, Hargitay replied, "Somehow, someway, yes."

Meloni shared a video on Instagram last week thanking fans for their support following the cancellation news. He wrote in the caption, "Thank you OC/SVU fans. You gave me a life"

"Hey everyone, I just saw that they announced OC, Organized Crimewon't be coming back," Meloni began in the video. "So 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 continued, "It was a good ride, I had a great time playing him. It was a great ride, but thank you. You helped give me a career that I never dreamed of. Nearly 17-odd years."

Law & Order: Organized Crime premiered in 2021 and aired its fifth season in April 2025. Meloni revived his beloved character from Law & Order: SVU, Elliott Stabler, in the series. Meloni starred alongside Hargitay in SVU from 1999 to 2011.

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 11:06 AM.