Taylor Swift and Mariska Hargitay's Friendship Timeline Explained
Taylor Swift and Mariska Hargitay's friendship started with a cat connection, and after more than a decade, they are still the purr-fect pair.
Swift has been a fan of Hargitay's long-running drama Law & Order: Special VictimsUnit, in which the actress plays Detective Olivia Benson, for years. In June 2014, Swift paid homage to her favorite crime solver by naming her cat Olivia Benson. (Swift also has a feline named after Meredith Grey from Grey's Anatomy and Benjamin Button, a nod to the 2008 Brad Pitt movie.)
"When she named her cat, I had so much going on," Hargitay exclusively told Us Weekly in October 2014, noting she gifted Swift an engraved collar for the pet after learning of the name. "I was out of town, and when things calmed down, I thought it warranted a real something [special]. That's so sweet and too fabulous."
Nearly a decade later, Hargitay returned the favor by naming her pet Karma in November 2023 in honor of Swift's hit song off her Midnights album.
"Are you serious?!!!! Nothing has ever come more full circle ⭕️ LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! 😻," Swift wrote in the comments section of Hargitay's kitten announcement in December 2023.
Scroll down to relive Swift and Hargitay's best friendship moments:
June 2014
Swift introduced her fans to her cat Olivia Benson, named after Hargitay's SVU character. Three months later, Hargitay posted a photo via Instagram of the custom cat collar she had made for Swift's furry friend.
August 2014
The twosome spent time together at a New York City concert featuring their mutual friend, Ingrid Michaelson. "Taylor is so great - beautiful, girly and lovely," Hargitay told Us of Swift in October of that year after the hangout.
Hargitay and Swift's bond was instant. "She's a huge fan of the show and was so gracious," the actress recalled, explaining how the cat collar came into play, "When we met, I knew I had to do something great [to repay her]."
August 2015
When Swift won Video of the Year at the 2015 MTV VMAs, Hargitay was part of her squad at the award show. "My girl @TaylorSwift. She won! So glad to be there with the #GirlSquad tonight to represent and watch you win! You earned it. #JusticeIsServed #BadBlood #BestVid #MadLove #JusticeAndCatastrophe," the actress wrote via Instagram after the event.
October 2023
Hargitay brought her daughter, Amaya, as her date to the Los Angeles movie premiere of Taylor Swift: Eras Tour.
November 2023
"Karma is a Cat @taylorswift Meet Karma. My Cat.🐱 #MeAndKarmaVibeLikeThat #AndIKeepMySideOfMyPawClean #KarmaIsACat," Hargitay wrote via Instagram, introducing her followers to her pet. The caption referenced lyrics from Swift's single "Karma" off her 2022 album Midnights.
Swift and Hargitay were photographed sitting next to each other at Madison Square Garden for game 3 of the NBA Finals as the New York Knicks took on the San Antonio Spurs.
The longtime friends wore matching blue baby tees with "Stevie Knicks" printed in orange letters.
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 10:37 AM.