Entertainment

Paula Deen Will Get the 'Law & Order: SVU' Treatment: Will More Than Her Career Get Killed?

Law & Order: SVU is famous for basing its episodes on real-life crime stories, but, still, the procedural will never reveal just which stories their episodes are based on. That said, it's pretty easy to read between the headlines — including a new one about a Cybill Shepherd-starring hour centering on a famous chef who kills a young man in a hoodie who she confuses for a rapist. Of course, only someone living under a rock (or in the Big Brother house) wouldn't realize that the storyline is based on both Paula Deen and Trayvon Martin.

Deen is just the latest celebrity to be the inspiration for a Law & Order subject. But one question remains: Her racist words might have killed her career, but will they also kill her on L&O: SVU? Read on to see which celebrities didn't make it out alive on the NBC procedural based on their stories.

by Kate Ward

Law & Order: SVU is famous for basing its episodes on real-life crime stories, but, still, the procedural will never reveal just which stories their episodes are based on. That said, it's pretty easy to read between the headlines — including a new one about a Cybill Shepherd-starring hour centering on a famous chef who kills a young man in a hoodie who she confuses for a rapist. Of course, only someone living under a rock (or in the Big Brother house) wouldn't realize that the storyline is based on both Paula Deen and Trayvon Martin.

Deen is just the latest celebrity to be the inspiration for a Law & Order subject. But one question remains: Her racist words might have killed her career, but will they also kill her on L&O: SVU? Read on to see which celebrities didn't make it out alive on the NBC procedural based on their stories.

Rihanna

A 2013 episode inspired by Rihanna's on-again, off-again relationship with Chris Brown — who was arrested in 2009 for domestic abuse — spun a sad tale for the pop star, "Micha." After reconciling with her abusive ex, Micha leaves for a boat trip with her boyfriend... and ends up dead.

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Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Though not directly based on the former View host, one 2006 episode of Law & Order: SVU centered on a woman who was raped twice and murdered... and was named Elizabeth Hassenback. The host called NBC to express her disappointment in the series, saying on The View, "I told him 'Look, I want to let you know that I think it's socially irresponsible and gruesomely suggestive to do this in today's day and age.'" For the record, the network chalked it up to "coincidence." Very coincidental coincidence.

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Kate Gosselin

In a 2009 episode, Law & Order: SVU highlighted a much darker version of Jon & Kate Plus 8: In the procedural's telling, the character inspired by Jon murders the character inspired by Kate. Jon Plus 8 Consecutive Terms?

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Anna Nicole Smith

Granted, Anna Nicole Smith did actually die of a drug overdose in 2007. But she was barely buried when Law & Order: Criminal Intent decided to air an episode focusing on the former Playmate's passing. The episode — which starred Kristy Swanson — might have seemed distasteful at the time, but, clearly, the industry doesn't think so, having greenlit two Anna Nicole Smith TV movies... and even a musical.

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