The National ENQUIRER is not exactly known for its sterling journalism, but it's latest attempt at celebrity sensationalism centered on what turned out to be the wrong celebrities to mess with.
After Law & Order stars Ice-T and Chris Meloni found out the long-running tabloid was preparing to publish a story about the two of them feuding over Meloni's return to the franchise in Law & Order: Organized Crime, the co-stars immediately sprang into action.
They took to Twitter to not only shut down the rumor but share some choice words for the ENQUIRER—destroying their big story before it ever even went to press in the process.
\u201cJust sent this email over to my guy @Chris_Meloni Clownass MFs trying to make up Drama outta thin air... WOW... MFs are really on that BS.\u201d— ICE T (@ICE T) 1673900998
The conversation began with Meloni tweeting a screenshot of an email Ice-T forwarded him from the Enquirer which contained a notification of its intent to publish the story and a request for comment.
The email read in part:
"The National ENQUIRER is preparing to publish a story reporting actors Ice-T and Christopher Meloni are feuding since the latter's return to the franchise."
"Sources told The ENQUIRER that the former rapper has grown envious of the attention that Mr. Meloni has received since coming back."
The email closed with a request for comment.
In his tweet, Meloni quipped that Ice-T "was kind enough to let me know we were feuding."
Ice-T, as ever, was a bit more forceful in his response.
Quote-tweeting Meloni, he wrote:
"Clownass MFs trying to make up Drama outta thin air... WOW... MFs are really on that BS."
\u201cJust sent this email over to my guy @Chris_Meloni Clownass MFs trying to make up Drama outta thin air... WOW... MFs are really on that BS.\u201d— ICE T (@ICE T) 1673900998
Ice-T also responded to Meloni's tweet with a confirmation he and Meloni are definitely on good terms, lest there be any doubt.
\u201c@Chris_Meloni LOL... Clownass MFs.. Chris is my MF man! F'em They just make BS up. Crazy.\u201d— Chris Meloni (@Chris Meloni) 1673900235
People on Twitter were loving Meloni's and Ice-T's takedown of the ENQUIRER.
\u201c@FINALLEVEL @Chris_Meloni Brother people have nothing better to do. Both of you two are at the top of your game. \ud83d\udcaf\ud83d\udc4a\ud83d\udcaf\u201d— ICE T (@ICE T) 1673900998
\u201c@Chris_Meloni @FINALLEVEL Maybe y\u2019all should do a fight for charity! Rap battle?\u201d— Chris Meloni (@Chris Meloni) 1673900235
\u201c@FINALLEVEL @Chris_Meloni Did that come direct from the circus? Cause sounds like there were some clowns involved \ud83e\udd21\u201d— ICE T (@ICE T) 1673900998
\u201c@FINALLEVEL @Chris_Meloni If y'all gonna feud, can you do it here? Cuz they ask too much $ for that rag and I still gotta buy eggs. \n\nLove you! Thanks!\u201d— ICE T (@ICE T) 1673900998
\u201c@Chris_Meloni @FINALLEVEL I\u2019m disappointed you two didn\u2019t take the opportunity to pretend you\u2019re beefing about something ridiculous like whether jam or cream goes on scones first, and see if you could get them to print it.\u201d— Chris Meloni (@Chris Meloni) 1673900235
\u201c@Chris_Meloni @FINALLEVEL You guys okay?\u201d— Chris Meloni (@Chris Meloni) 1673900235
\u201c@Chris_Meloni @FINALLEVEL dam i hope yall can work this out \nkiss and make up guys\ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffb\u201d— Chris Meloni (@Chris Meloni) 1673900235
\u201c@Chris_Meloni @FINALLEVEL \u2026 I'm not saying perhaps you guys could feud while covered in say olive oil while wearing little loincloths, but have you guys considered it? To raise money for charity?\u201d— Chris Meloni (@Chris Meloni) 1673900235
\u201c@Chris_Meloni @FINALLEVEL Hahaha. Love how you guys got ahead of it! In case you haven\u2019t heard, you and Mariska are also at it. \ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\u201d— Chris Meloni (@Chris Meloni) 1673900235
Meloni and Ice-T were co-stars for 10 years on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in their respective roles as Detective Elliot Stabler and Sergeant Odafin "Fin" Tutuola.
Meloni, who began on SVU in 1999, left in 2011. He returned to the franchise in 2021 for its new spin-off Law & Order: Organized Crime.