Mariska Hargitay is celebrating a major career milestone on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but fans have found something else to talk about. The actress faced criticism online after a celebratory photo featuring her longtime co-star Christopher Meloni was called out for looking AI-generated.
The reaction came on Thursday, 12 November 2026, when the series marked its 600th episode. While the achievement is a major moment for the long-running crime drama, some viewers focused on the artificial-looking image instead.
Fans Slam AI Image of Hargitay
The photo showed Hargitay and Meloni standing together while holding gold balloons spelling out '600.' However, the black-and-white image did not go down well with some fans, who felt it looked like it had been made using artificial intelligence.
Viewers quickly shared their thoughts in the comments. One person wrote, 'The AI tho 😭', while another complained, 'I love this.... But not the AI slop!!!! 😭' Others also questioned the use of AI in the show's social media content.
One comment also raised concerns about the music used in the post, claiming that it came from an AI music account. Another fan joked that if Benson and Stabler did not share a kiss, they might have to use AI to create one. The comments showed that some viewers were more interested in the image than the show's big achievement.
Real Balloons Follow
Hargitay later shared another group of photos showing gold balloons spelling out 'SVU 600'. Unlike the first image, these pictures appeared to show a real celebration setup, giving fans a different look at the milestone.
The second set of photos came as the cast marked 600 episodes of the iconic crime drama. The achievement is especially important because the show first aired in 1999 and has remained on television for more than 25 years. Hargitay has played Olivia Benson since the series began.
The milestone episode, titled 'Obedience,' aired on 12 November at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. It also brought Meloni back as Elliot Stabler, reuniting him with Hargitay's Benson as they looked into an old case. Brenna Malloy directed the episode, with Michele Fazekas as the writer. The episode also stars Ice-T, who has been in all seasons of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit except the first.
Her Reported $850K Pay
The online debate comes as details about Hargitay's reported salary have also caught attention. The actress reportedly earns nearly £641,000 ($850,000) per episode for her work on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The figure covers her work as the show's lead actress and executive producer. Her reported pay puts her among television's highest-paid drama stars.
Hargitay has been part of the crime drama since its first episode in 1999. She became the show's lead after Meloni left as a regular cast member in 2011, although he has returned for guest appearances. She has been the only cast member who has stayed in all seasons of the show. Her long run as Benson has made her one of the best-known faces on television.
Even with the show's huge milestone, the reaction to its AI-looking celebration image has become another talking point among viewers, with many wondering curiously as to the need for it.
