Former “Law & Order: SVU” star Diane Neal is at the center of a swirling controversy following explosive allegations from her ex-boyfriend, magician JB Benn. Court documents reveal Neal allegedly labeled her former co-star Mariska Hargitay a “total bitch” and disparaged other colleagues as “awful people.” These claims emerged from an email written by Neal’s former campaign manager, Rachael Himsel, now part of Benn’s counter-lawsuit against Neal.
Neal, who played Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak on the hit NBC series, has strenuously denied the accusations. In a statement to Page Six, she declared, “There is no truth to this at all. Most of the people I’ve worked with are amazing; I love almost everyone I’ve ever worked with.” She added, “Mariska and I were not the closest, but that doesn’t mean we have any animosity. She’s a great mom, a fantastic Benson, and involved in great charity work. I have never spoken about my castmates in such a way. It’s salacious and untrue.”
The court documents also unveil a darker narrative from Neal’s tumultuous relationship with Benn. Benn alleges that in a recorded threat from November 7, 2017, Neal expressed her intention to cause severe harm to him and their dog, Charlie. In one recording, Neal purportedly said, “I am going to kill you or sue the f–k out of you. I will make your life as miserable as you’ve made mine… I’m going to kill your dog in front of you. Charlie, I’m going to kill you.”
Further adding to the tension, Benn claims Neal threatened him with death and to harm their pet in a March 2018 outburst. These disturbing revelations come alongside Neal’s own lawsuit against Benn, accusing him of financial deceit and physical and emotional abuse. The couple, who met at a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. charity event in December 2013, ended their relationship last year. Neal asserts Benn has taken nearly everything from her, including her home, which Benn denies.
Himsel, who was briefly Neal’s campaign manager, expressed grave concerns about Neal’s mental state in court filings. She recounted, “Ms. Neal used Mr. Benn as an emotional punching bag, calling him derogatory names and threatening him with death.” Neal has since dismissed Himsel, stating that her claims are unfounded and emphasizing that she initially reported the abuse to authorities last year.
Amid these legal battles and personal upheavals, Neal is focused on reviving her acting career. NBC has yet to comment on the situation.
