Celebrity
Mariska Hargitay Gets Heartwarming Surprise From Her Favorite Knicks Star
Mariska Hargitay got a special visitor at a recent performance of her Broadway play, ‘Every Brilliant Thing.’
Mariska Hargitay has spent the past few weeks cheering on New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson throughout the team’s championship run. Now, the NBA Finals MVP has returned the favor. He showed up to support the Law & Order: SVU star during her Broadway run of Every Brilliant Thing. Fans were tickled by it all.
Fans of Hargitay’s know how much she loves the Knicks, and especially Brunson. She and her oldest son, August Hermann, were courtside during one game of the finals and on Brunson’s float during the celebratory parade.
On June 26, Brunson decided it was his turn to show his pal some love. People shared photos showing Brunson backstage with Hargitay, where everybody was all smiles.
Brunson did not manage to fly under the radar at the Hudson Theatre during the performance, though. According to People, he “sat center orchestra, smiling and watching Hargitay” as she performed.
At one point toward the end of the performance, when her character sorts through items in boxes, one of Brunson’s Knicks jerseys was included. The media outlet indicated that the jersey had been included by production once before, during the playoffs.
Apparently, the inclusion of the jersey had a much bigger impact on the audience this time, with many noticing Brunson in the crowd. They also gave him a standing ovation.
In a subreddit dedicated to the Knicks, one fan commented, “Icons supporting icons.”
Another quipped, “Verdict: I love this so much. Cuff Me.”
Someone else wrote, “He’s cheesing so hard lmaoooo his admiration for her is so funny.”
In the Broadway subreddit, a fan added, “Legends supporting legends!!!”
Brunson was backstage to greet Hargitay after her final bow, and one person told People, “It was so sweet.”
“He was congratulating her and telling her how much he loved the show. She was so thrilled he was there,” the insider continued.
They added, “You could see how much admiration they have for one another.”
The bond between Hargitay and Brunson has been developing for a while. He has shared that Law & Order: SVU was a staple in his home growing up, and he loved the series.
He has continued to watch the show and even has said, “It’s a pregame show for me.” Hargitay was flattered to learn of the Knicks star’s love for her long-running series. Although she was already a huge Knicks fan, her love for Brunson, in particular, blossomed.
The two met in person some time ago, and he even attended the premiere of My Mom Jayne when it debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2025. Brunson has admitted he rarely gets starstruck, but he did when he met Hargitay.
