Is Mariska Hargitay really gone from NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for the rest of the season?
Despite her recent surgery to help repair a collapsed lung and today's report from In Touch Weekly that "they have written [Mariska Hargitay] out of the rest of the season," SVU boss Neal Baer tells us exclusively that Mariska will be back, and soon.
Baer tells us, "That [report] is so bizarre! Her publicist was saying that this is going around, but the answer is absolutely not true! She will be back shortly. I talk to her all the time. She's doing great, so you can be the first to announce that there is no truth to this. She is slated to come back, she's feeling really well and she will definitely be back. And she'll be back for the last four episodes."
So will Mariska have to be written out of the show at all because of her medical issues?
"She's only out of one episode," Baer tells us, adding, "I don't know who started that [rumor]."
Mariska, 45, underwent a second surgery last week to address complications from a collapsed lung she suffered in January. Her hit crime series is now in its 10th season.
Mariska's rep tells us of the In Touch report: "Not true. Mariska is recovering well and is returning to the show this season."
Are you excited to hear that Mariska is healthy, strong and able to go back to work on SVU? Post in the comments!
Law & Order: Special Victims airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.
—Additional reporting by Megan Masters