'Law and Order: SVU' Tackles the Ray Rice Domestic Abuse Scandal

ETONLINE

ET is on the set of the latest groundbreaking episode of Law and Order: SVU.

It’s another story ripped from the headlines on tonight’s Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and ET was on the set talking to the stars as they tackle the Ray Rice domestic abuse scandal in primetime.


Meagan Good
plays a battered woman who stays in a romantic relationship despite a domestic abuse charge after video of her boyfriend, a high-profile sports figure played by The Walking Dead's Chad Coleman, hitting her goes public.

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While the storyline seems to draw major similarities to the Rice scandal, Coleman says he's not trying to play Ray Rice but rather focusing on portraying an original character-- and one who needs help.

"It's incredibly important to not turn [the character] into a villain," Coleman told ET. "He's a human being that made a horrific mistake. I'm sure if he could take it back he would."

Coleman adds it was important to take on the role telling ET, "We need to work towards healing, so however we can facilitate that conversation where both parties can come to the table and we can find hope and healing, then I'm ready to be a part of that."

EXCLUSIVE: Terry Crews Talks Ray Rice & His Own Experiences With Domestic Violence

Rice was terminated by the Baltimore Ravens and placed on indefinite suspension after a video surfaced showing Rice punching his then-fiancée (now wife) Janay Palmer in the face, knocking her unconscious. He is currently awaiting a ruling on reinstatement to the NFL.


SVU
star Ice-T says he appreciates the complexity of the domestic violence discussion that has sprung from real-life stories.

"This is happening every day," he told ET. "Are you afraid for your life-- or is it that one simple moment that determines the rest of your life?"


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