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Mariska Hargitay Is Too Calm Letting a Giant Snake Kiss Her Cheek in Wild New Pic

The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star made a Taylor Swift reference in the awesome moment. 

By Jackie Manno
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Just like her Law & Order: Special Victims unit character Olivia Benson, Mariska Hargitay isn't afraid of anything. 

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Watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC and next day on Peacock.

On March 19, Harigtay shared epic snapshots of her holding a yellow boa constrictor without even flinching. 

"So… fun fact. Well I was a kid, we had a boa constrictor as a pet. I know I know… I got to hold this gorgeous creature yesterday. It brought me right back! #SnakeKisses #Snake #SnakeLife #Trust #SnakeCharmer #Reputation (my version) #AlbinoSnake," she captioned the post, making a not-so-subtle reference to her friend Taylor Swift. 

Meanwhile, many fans made a connection to Swift's 2017 album Reputation. At the time the Grammy-winner teased the release of her album with a video of a snake, a nod to many of her detractors at the time, reclaiming the shady narrative that labeled her as a snake in the music industry. She also referenced the reptile in her 2019 song “You Need To Calm Down" with the lyrics, "snakes and stones never broke my bones."

RELATED: See Mariska Hargitay Dancing with Reese Witherspoon at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

"Olivia Benson in her reputation era core 🖤🐍," said one commenter.

"Reputation (Mariska’s Version) 🐍," added another.

Mariska Hargitay and Taylor Swift's friendship

Speaking of Taylor Swift, Hargitay and Swift originally clicked back when Hargitay and her husband, Peter Hermann, were stranded in Queens after and Ingrid Michaelson concert. According to a story that Hargitay told while on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Swift pulled up and offered the two a ride. 

“She was like a little angel that goes, ‘Oh, do you guys need a ride?’ And I was like, ‘Oh no, why? And then she drove us home, and that was the end of it,”  Hargitay said to Meyers.

Hargitay later went on to star in Taylor Swift's Bad Blood music video. “I got a text from her [Swift] one day, and she said, ‘Do you want to be in my video?’” said while on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in 2015. “I didn’t know what to expect, but they [the other women in the video] were so lovely and inclusive, and I had so much fun with them."

Mariska Hargitay and Amaya Hermann hold hands at the "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Concert Movie

RELATED: Mariska Hargitay Shares Rare Pic of Daughter at Taylor Swift Show with Selena Gomez

That year, when Swift was named one of Time's most influential people, Hargitay penned a thoughtful essay on what Swift has done for the music industry. 

"I’m amazed at how much earned wisdom Taylor threads into her work. She seems tuned in to the greater good, and she embraces—thoughtfully and authentically—the chance to contribute to the world. The haters are gonna hate, but, well, shake it off... Along with her staggering list of accomplishments, perhaps the most exciting thing about Taylor is that she’s just getting started with what she plans to mine from her fierce, curious, boundlessly talented, and beautiful heart," the essay reads.

Adorably, one of Swift's cats is named Olivia Benson. To return the affection, Hargitay adopted a cat in November 2023 and named her "Karma" after Swift's hit 2022 single of the same name. The actress also attended the Eras Tour in summer 2023 with her daughter Amaya, and they attended the The Eras Tour movie premiere later that fall. 

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