Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

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In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses

are considered especially heinous.

In New York City, the dedicated detectives

who investigate these vicious felonies

are members of an elite squad

known as the Special Victims Unit.

These are their stories.

We're 45 seconds out to air.

Hair and makeup, you have 15 seconds.

Camera two, ready.

30 seconds to air.

Thanks for being here, Olivia.

I feel like I haven't seen you in forever.

- How are you? - I know. I'm good.

Just, you know, a little nervous right now.

Oh, don't be. You're a pro.

What are we waiting for, the damn actress?

- There she is. - My fault.

I'm such a fan of Ms. Delucci,

- I practically kidnapped her. - Not a problem.

We're ready when you are, Mr. Coyle.

Places. Ten seconds.

- - Hi. Good morning.

- Hi. - Please have a seat.

- We ready, people? - Good morning.

In five, four...

Good morning from New York City.

- I'm Heidi Sorenson. - And I'm George Thanos.

Thank you for joining us on "HNT Morning Live."

Also joining us today, Golden Globe winner

Davina Delucci and Manhattan SVU's Lieutenant

- Olivia Benson. - If you were paying attention

to the recent news cycle, you couldn't miss

the controversy surrounding the 2007 film, "Turnstyle."

Davina Delucci has alleged she was raped, on camera,

by her co-star, while filming the movie's infamous sex scene.

Davina is pursuing legal action.

We'll hear her story, but first,

Lieutenant Benson, what can you tell us

- about workplace sexual assault? - Well, it happens

all too often, and unfortunately,

it's one of the least reported crimes.

- Why is that? - Women are afraid of

not being believed, of losing their job.

Does this ring true for you, Davina?

You waited almost ten years to go public.

Yes, I was scared if I said anything

- I'd never work again. - And your rapist...

alleged rapist, Dante Marino,

was not only your co-star, he was your director.

- That's right. - Can you tell us

- what happened on the set? - We were scheduled to film

the love scene later that day.

Dante told me the scene was being re-written.

- Re-written how? - He didn't go into detail.

He just told me to...

respond in the moment organically.

And what happened while filming?

We were on a couch. Kissing.

Then Dante got aggressive.

Before I knew what was happening, he was raping me.

I couldn't fight him off.

I was frozen.

You couldn't move.

That's right.

For ten years audiences thought they were watching a love scene,

but they were watching a rape.

My rape.

And I was too afraid to say anything.

So, you pretended like nothing happened.

Yes.

He was my director. My boss.

And you were afraid for your job.

Yes.

I can't imagine what you were going through.

Of course you can't, George. It never happened to you.

A very, um...

um... disturbing story.

Thank you, Davina. Uh, Lieutenant Benson.

We'll be back after the break with our special guest

Karl Rove.

- And we're out. - Excuse me.

Hey, you okay? What just happened?

Harold Coyle raped me in January,

- on the couch in his office. - Let's get you some air.

No, no, I'm fine. I'm just... I'm tired.

Okay, I think we need to speak.

What I said, I didn't mean any of it.

- I'm fine. Sorry. - Heidi...

I can't imagine what you were going through.

Of course you can't, George, it never happened to you.

You all saw that, right?

- On-air disclosure? - We were watching you live.

They couldn't cut away fast enough.

Yeah, and then she told me

- that Harold Coyle raped her. - Coyle, huh?

Heard a lot of rumors about that guy.

He's paranoid, he's a predator. How well do you know Heidi?

We met at a "Women in New York" panel years ago.

We stayed in touch. I don't see her making this up.

Okay, did she give you any more details?

Oh, no, she back-tracked.

She's now not returning my calls.

- So, what's our move now? - Excuse me, Lieutenant?

This guy says urgent.

Hi. How can I help you?

I saw you on "HNT" this morning.

Heidi Sorenson, she was talking about

- Harold Coyle, wasn't she? - Why do you ask?

He assaulted my wife.

This is her, Amy.

She worked in public relations at "HNT."

- Okay. - Okay, can you tell us what happened?

Harold was always making moves,

being flirty. She told him she was married.

- But he didn't stop. - No.

He kept pressuring her, making sexual comments.

She went along with it.

Then one day, she said "no" to him.

And he... raped her.

- She told you this? - Yes.

I said we should go to the police. File a report.

Can I ask why you didn't?

She told me Harold had taped her.

He had made it look like they were having an affair.

Then after he raped her, he said,

if she went to the police, he'd release the tapes.

She didn't want to hurt me.

After that...

she went into a depression.

She committed suicide six months later.

I'm so sorry.

I want you to go after that bastard and the network.

They all knew about him and nobody did a thing.

Coyle threatened her directly?

His producer, Turner.

He said, if Amy wanted to go after Coyle,

it would be scorched earth. "HNT" would destroy us.

- Steven Turner? SVU. - If you're here about Heidi,

your Lieutenant already knows, there's nothing to talk about,

and I'm sorry, but I'm late for a meeting.

Actually, we're here about Amy James.

- Amy James. - Yeah, she worked here

a few years ago. She killed herself.

I did hear about that. A tragedy.

Yeah, did you also hear she accused Harold Coyle of assault,

just like Heidi?

Maybe you should talk to our lawyers.

Good. We can ask them to turn over the video tapes of Amy.

The tapes Coyle was blackmailing her with.

I think you're off base here.

We have two allegations of assault.

Now, a publicist who's mentally unstable,

she's easy to discredit,

but the star of the network, not so much.

Harold, Harold, Harold, what can you tell us about Heidi?

- Will she be back tomorrow? - We hope so.

This morning Heidi was obviously very emotional

after hearing Davina's story. Why we love her here.

Margery, what's next for you at "HNT"?

I hope to follow in Heidi's footsteps.

She's a real talent, a dedicated journalist.

- I consider her a mentor. - Mr. Coyle, what can you...

The real reason Heidi had her "breakdown"?

She was trying to renegotiate her contract.

Then she found out Margery Evans is being groomed

- to replace her. - "Groomed"?

By who? Harold Coyle?

This is a brutal business for women.

There's a shelf life.

No matter how much plastic surgery they get.

_

I told you I didn't want to talk.

Heidi, please. It's important.

Is it true that you're re-negotiating

- your contract with "HNT"? - I'm exploring my options.

Is that why you don't wanna tell me the truth

about what happened this morning?

I should never have said his name out loud like that.

Why? Because it isn't true?

Or because you're scared of getting fired?

Okay, let's say it is true.

I'm not ruining my career because I had a weak moment.

I fixed it.

I apologized to Harold personally.

He knows it won't happen again.

Did you know Amy James?

- She had... problems. - He had tape on her.

- Does he have tape on you? - No!

We can fight this.

Don't judge me.

And don't worry. I'm not going to kill myself.

All right. Well, when you're ready to have a serious conversation,

you know where I am.

Uh, Lieutenant, Chief Dodds is here.

- Lieutenant. Counselor. - Chief.

- It's been a while. - 1PP got a call

from Steven Turner at "HNT."

You're investigating Harold Coyle on assault charges?