If you were anywhere near the internet in 2015, you probably remember the absolute chaos that was the "Bad Blood" music video rollout. Taylor Swift was dropping these noir-style posters every few hours like she was casting the most expensive action movie ever made. Then, out of nowhere, Mariska Hargitay pops up.
Yeah. The Captain Olivia Benson herself.
It felt like a fever dream for fans of Law & Order: SVU. Seeing Mariska trade her NYPD badge for a sleek, futuristic assassin's outfit was the crossover nobody saw coming, but everyone desperately needed. But honestly? The story of how she ended up in that video—and the weirdly wholesome friendship that followed—is way better than the 30 seconds of screen time she actually got.
The Text That Started It All
You’d think a high-budget Joseph Kahn production would involve agents, long contracts, and months of planning. Nope. For Mariska, it was basically just a text.
She was on Watch What Happens Live a while back and told Andy Cohen that Taylor just reached out directly. "Do you want to be in my video?"
That was it.
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Mariska said she didn't really know what to expect. She’s used to 14-hour days on a gritty New York set dealing with heavy, dramatic scripts. Suddenly, she’s on a stylized soundstage with Selena Gomez, Zendaya, and Gigi Hadid. She actually joked that she felt like she was in seventh grade and the "cool girl" picked her to sit at the lunch table.
Why Mariska Hargitay Was the Ultimate Bad Blood Choice
There was a very specific reason Taylor wanted her there. It wasn't just about having a famous face. It was about the cats.
If you're a Swiftie, you know Taylor’s cats are basically C-list celebrities in their own right. One of them is named Olivia Benson. Taylor has been vocal for years about her obsession with SVU, and naming her Scottish Fold after Mariska’s character was the ultimate fan-girl move.
In the Bad Blood universe, Mariska was given the codename Justice.
It’s perfect, right? She spent decades playing a character who literally hunts for justice. Seeing her walk side-by-side with Ellen Pompeo (who played "Luna," a nod to her own character Meredith Grey) felt like the "Mothers of TV" were finally taking their throne.
The Set Vibe
Mariska has gone on record saying the shoot was "the most fun ever."
She was worried it might be a bit cliquey or intimidating because she was, well, a little older than the "squad" demographic at the time. But she was floored by how inclusive everyone was. Karlie Kloss apparently grabbed her hand the minute she walked in and told her, "I'm staying with you."
It wasn't just a work gig; it was a vibe.
The "Full Circle" Cat Moment
The mariska hargitay bad blood connection didn't end when the cameras stopped rolling. This thing has layers that lasted for a decade.
Fast forward to late 2023. Mariska decides to get a new kitten. Does she name it something normal like Mittens? No. She names it Karma.
She posted it on Instagram with the caption "Karma is a Cat," tagging Taylor. The internet lost its mind. Taylor herself commented, "Nothing has ever come more full circle."
Think about the timeline here:
- Taylor names her cat after Mariska's character.
- Taylor invites Mariska to star in "Bad Blood."
- Mariska walks the stage at the VMAs with Taylor to accept Video of the Year.
- Mariska names her cat after Taylor's song.
It’s a bizarrely specific cycle of mutual respect. Mariska even mentioned on Call Her Daddy that she views Taylor as a "boss lady" and actually learned a lot about leadership just by watching how Taylor ran the music video set.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume this was a PR stunt cooked up by a label. It really wasn't.
The friendship actually started at the Met Gala. Mariska said she was "so uncool" and didn't realize Taylor was "the second coming" at the time. They just hit it off. Later, Taylor even gave Mariska and her husband, Peter Hermann, a ride home after a concert because they couldn't find a car.
It’s just two incredibly famous women who happened to bond over the fact that one of them plays the other's favorite TV character.
Why It Still Matters Today
In the era of "manufactured" celebrity friendships, the Mariska and Taylor bond feels weirdly authentic. When Mariska showed up at the Eras Tour film premiere in 2023 wearing friendship bracelets and a 1989 t-shirt, she wasn't doing it for the "gram" (well, not just for that). She was there as a genuine fan.
She’s spoken about how Taylor’s music helped her daughter, Amaya, and how the "Bad Blood" experience gave her a new kind of "cool factor" with her kids.
How to Channel Your Inner "Justice"
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this specific piece of pop culture history, here’s how to do it right:
- Watch the Video (Again): Look for the shot where Mariska and Ellen Pompeo are walking toward the camera. It’s pure power.
- Follow the Cat Lore: Look up the photos of Mariska’s cat, Karma. The resemblance to the Midnights aesthetic is intentional and hilarious.
- Check the Interviews: Watch Mariska’s 2015 interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Her description of the "Bad Blood" set is way more detailed and funny than the snippets you see on TikTok.
There's no "bad blood" here—just a decade-long friendship that started with a cat name and ended up as one of the most iconic music video cameos in history.
Next Steps for You
- Check out the "Bad Blood" Poster Gallery: Look for the original "Justice" character poster to see the high-fashion tactical gear Mariska wore.
- Search for the VMA 2015 Acceptance Speech: Watch the moment Mariska and the rest of the squad joined Taylor on stage; it’s the peak of that era's pop culture.
- Look up Mariska's Instagram Post from November 2023: You can see the photos of her cat Karma and Taylor's direct reaction in the comments.