'Law & Order: SVU' Season 17 Episode 7 Spoilers: Plot Based on Duggar Family Scandal [Watch]
The trailer for "Law & Order: SVU" Episode 7 of Season 17, titled "Patrimonial Burden," has aired, and it looks to be inspired by some real world events.
"The SVU investigates an unraveling web of secrets when the virtuous 13-year-old daughter of a famous reality TV family discovers she's pregnant," the episode's description reads.
The fictional family is likely based on the Duggars, stars of TLC's seven-year reality drama "19 Kids and Counting." The show was cancelled after news broke that the Duggars' eldest son Josh had molested five younger girls, four of whom were his own sisters. His parents briefly sent him away to a religious training institute, and the incident was not initially revealed to the media.
If the promo is any indication, this "SVU" episode's plot will be even darker than the Duggars' controversy, given the fictional girl's pregnancy and the insistence from her family on her virginity.
"You see a crime," the fictional mother (Geneva Carr) says in the trailer. "We see it as a blessing."
The episode will feature Tony-nominated actors Andy Karl, Christopher Sieber and Carr, as well as Ryan Devlin, Victoria Leigh and Chris Elliott.
Actor Peter Scanavino, who plays Det. Carisi on the show, spoke to the press about the controversy that inspired the plot.
"With the Duggar one, it was like the double-whammy because it was his sisters and the fact -- I mean, honestly, I feel like we're dealing with some topics this season that feel a bit meatier than some lunatic fringe family ... I wouldn't mind doing one just because I have never been so infuriated with someone's level of hypocrisy, and lying, and then displacement of responsibility onto something else," Scanvino said, according to E! Online.
He added, "When I think about that guy, it boils my blood, I will say."
The episode is set to air Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Watch the preview below.
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!