Chris Meloni Revisits SVU's Infamous Benson/Stabler Near-Kiss In The Kitchen: 'We Were Attempting Something, I Don't Think It Worked'

We've heard from one half of Law & Order: SVU's infamous Near-Kiss in the Kitchen, and now it's time for the other party to weigh in.

Law & Order: SVU alum Chris Meloni, who currently stars as Det. Elliot Stabler on Organized Crime, referenced the 'shippy moment between his character and Mariska Hargitay's Capt. Olivia Benson during his recent TVLine Spotlight conversation in New York City.

"Here's the real deal: Where they're going, I have no idea," Meloni said in response to a question about whether SVU and Organized Crime are toying with fans who would like to see the former police partners fall in love.

He cited Organized Crime's high turnover rate for showrunners as one reason that the characters' interactions have felt inconsistent over the past few seasons.

"Each new person comes in, they've got their own ideas, they've got their own views," he said. "And on top of that, you also have the Wolf [Entertainment] folks [who produce the series], and they're not even quite clear, and then you have SVU folks. So we've had the confabs about 'Where are we going? What are we doing?' And it's like every meeting: It doesn't go anywhere."

As an example, he referred to the SVU/Law & Order: Organized Crime crossover episode (SVU's 12th of Season 24) that ended with Olivia and Elliot in her kitchen, standing very close, as he told her that he cared about her. They drew closer and nearly kissed, but then Benson pulled back. "Elliot, Elliot, I want to," she whispers. "I want to, but I can't." When he pressed her, she admits that she's worried that a romance between them might not succeed. And when he countered that it might, she seemed very troubled as she repeated, "I'm not ready for this." (Read a detailed recap of the episode.)

"So, the kitchen thing," Meloni said. "We were attempting something. I don't think it worked. But I'm not going to tell you why it didn't work, because you all have your opinion; I know what transpired."

In a May interview with our sister site Variety, Hargitay said that the scene "got changed at the last minute" because "Chris and I thought it should go one way, and the powers that be didn't."

Meloni told the audience at the TVLine Spotlight event that he and Hargitay are "doing the best we can to make it honest, not make it bait. If we do bait, at least for me, I always do it with a wink. I think it's good-natured, but maybe you guys are over that. And that's valid. But you give us too much credit for the power that we might have, will-they-won't-they and all that stuff."

Press PLAY on the video above to hear what else Meloni had to say about all things 'EO,' then hit the comments with your thoughts!