Since Law and Order SVU first premiered in 1999, long-time fans have held on to their desire for Oliva Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) to turn their friendship into a romance. However, Fin Tutola star Ice-T admitted he didn’t approve for a key reason. 

Benson and Stabler were first introduced to viewers during the pilot episode of Law and Order SVU where they worked on cases together in the special victims unit.

In the years leading up to Stabler’s season 12 exit, fans had made calls for the two detectives to take their flirting further and have a romance.

However Ice-T who stars as Fin Tutola, Benson’s right-hand man, shared his initial disapproval of the relationship.

When probed about the Stabler and Benson getting together, he said: “I don’t see why not.”

His return reignited fans’ desires to see them together after it was revealed Kathy was killed in a tragic car accident.

Although he initially disapproved of Benson and Stabler getting together, Ice-T continued: “But then Chris’ wife died, I don’t know maybe they’d rather let that hang on.”

He added: “It’s very interesting how they twist the plot and they make people stay intrigued in what’s going on next.

“So nothing but love to the writers of this and how they make it happen,” the actor told Entertainment Tonight.

Benson star Mariska Hargitay previously addressed if Stabler’s return would spark any romantic feelings for her character.

She said: “Olivia Benson is hurt, he left me in the lurch for ten years. She’s frightened.

“The energy is there, Olivia’s been in love with him for many a year. And I think we are slowly finding our way back to it.

“I want to give him the amount of time he needs to grieve Kathy Stabler.”