The cast of the long-running crime drama spoke with

ET on Tuesday at the 25th anniversary celebration in New York.
The cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit came

together on Tuesday for the show’s 25th anniversary

special in New York City, and shared their love and support for series stalwart Mariska Hargitay.

Hargitay’s adoring co-stars spoke with ET’s Rachel Smith on the carpet and reflected on her recent editorial for People, in which she candidly revealed that she’d been sexually attacked by an unnamed friend in her 30s.

Longtime friend and co-star Christopher Meloni — who starred for years as Detective Elliot Stabler, partner to Hargitay’s Olivia Benson — praised her openness and strong vulnerability.

“When I first heard the story, it took me aback and I was amazed by her bravery,” Meloni said of the editorial. “She did it with clarity and with grace and with a lot of thought… [it was] a personal story meant for a greater audience and a greater impact for that audience.”