Law & Order Special Victims Unit s23e05 Episode Script
Fast Times @TheWheelhouse
1
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.
[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING.]
Now work they say I lean when I step Swag it one time and lean to the left Now work, baby girl Why are Tate and Liam so cute? I can't believe they invited me to the Wheelhouse.
I thought Diggy Wheeler invited you? Well, yeah, technically.
But I've been DMing with Tate.
Diggy's house, his rules.
- Show him respect.
- Mm-hmm.
And Tate and Liam can be Fun, creative.
Really, really sexy.
Don't give me that look.
This could be a huge break for me.
Posting content with these guys could bring me to 6 million overnight.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
I'm not gonna let you go into that lion's den alone.
I'm coming with.
Now close.
If someone pushed me out I think that I'd do the same This is it.
The Wheelhouse.
Holy freaking I mean are you kidding me with this place? I know.
Never gets old.
So it's one thing to look at the skyline from Jersey.
But it's another to be on top of it.
[BRIGHT POP MUSIC.]
Come on.
Fun times.
Diggy Wheeler.
How are you doing? It's good to be the king.
And you must be Willa.
You're as pretty in real life as you are in your videos.
That never happens.
No one told me you were here.
Well, you snooze, you lose.
We were just giving her a tour.
What do you think, Willa? This place is sick.
Well, I'm glad you like it.
Maybe we'll find a spot for you.
Oh, I've got lots of content ideas.
- Which is why you're here.
- Mm-hmm.
["KISS ME MORE" BY DOJA CA FEAT.
SZA PLAYING.]
We hug and yes, we make love And always just say goodnight La la la la la And we cuddle, sure, I do love it But I need your lips on mine Can you kiss me more? We're so young, boy, we ain't got nothing to lose Oh, oh, it's just principle Baby, hold me 'Cause I like the way you groove Oh oh Boy, you write your name, I can do the same [MUSIC PLAYS FROM SPEAKERS.]
Yo, check it out.
Hit a million views.
- Already? - Yep.
That's insane.
Think you could get used to this? Getting paid to make videos all day? It comes with the territory.
Dude, it is the territory.
All right.
Vibe check.
Shots and then hot tub action, eh? - Yeah.
- Hey.
Oh, God.
I'm such a lightweight.
All right, welcome to the Wheelhouse.
- Hey.
- Ooh! Cheers.
- Oh, yeah, baby.
- Ugh.
- Wow.
- [COUGHS.]
[UPBEAT MUSIC.]
- Willa, are you all right? - Me? I'm I'm totally I'm fine.
Whoa, whoa, easy.
Yo, everything Gucci over there? [MUTTERING.]
I'm good.
Hey, you Um, you need to lie down.
There's a guest room downstairs.
Okay.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Thank you.
Oh, it's our business manager, - Lenny.
- Oh.
I can call him back.
Dude, take the call.
That's why you're the boss.
We'll help Willa downstairs.
Poor Willa.
- Easy.
- I'm sorry.
Oh, careful.
- You're good.
- Okay.
[LAUGHING.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Willa? Honey, I've been [SOBBING.]
Mom Mom, look.
TikTok, Noah? I said no phones at the table.
Just look.
You guys, I'm here at the Wheelhouse.
We were partying tonight.
And Tate and Liam they just, raped me.
I don't know whether to post this, or go to SVU or pretend like it was a bad dream.
- Who is this? - Willa Bartola, a dancer.
You guys, I'm here at the Wheelhouse.
Well, she must have deleted it.
It's not there anymore.
If the video's gone, does that mean you can't help her? No, it doesn't, honey.
Sweetie, remember how I keep telling you, once you post something on the internet, it stays there forever.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
You guys, I'm here at the Wheelhouse.
We were partying tonight, and, Tate and Liam they just raped me.
So she's a TikTok star? According to Noah.
So she posts this video, and then she deletes it.
But, not before everybody copied it? - Do we know when she posted it? - No, Carisi, we don't, and to be honest with you, I don't really know what we're looking at here.
- That makes two of us.
- Hmm.
Sorry to interrupt.
Detective, yes.
Sergeant Bell told me that, that OC was looking for our help to find a missing girl.
Her name's Rita Lasku.
- Do you mind? - Of course.
Stabler found her passport in the closet of an Albanian gang higher-up, along with a dozen others.
All young Albanian women.
They're holding passports.
That means they're trafficking them.
That's why I'm here.
Stabler got close to Rita when she was waitressing in a diner.
She's been missing for a few days.
Did he ask about her at the diner? They claimed she was sick.
- He can't really pursue.
- Well, we can, and we will look into it.
Thanks.
Wait, that's Willa Bartola.
- Did something happen to her? - You know her? Everybody knows her.
Not everyone.
A rising star.
She blew up last week when she posted a dance video with the Wheelhouse guys.
Yeah Tate and Liam.
Rivers, so you do know them? She's claiming that those two raped her.
At a party at the Wheelhouse.
That's rough.
I'm not entirely surprised.
I get a bad vibe.
Back up.
What is the Wheelhouse? It's a content house.
Meaning? Groups of influencers live together and crank out videos 24/7.
The Wheelhouse is the brainchild of Diggy Wheeler.
Kind of a nerd who's broken through.
So Willa went there looking for her 15 minutes? More like 15 million followers.
If you get invited into that house, you're a superstar.
Endorsement deals, money pouring in.
If it works out.
Looks like it didn't.
Willa, thank you for meeting us.
That video you posted, you made that right after you were assaulted? Yeah, I went back and forth on whether or not to post it, and then I finally decided, everybody needs to know who these guys really are.
Okay, but then you took it down.
- I had to.
- Why? You wouldn't believe the hate I was getting from Wheelhouse fans.
I was doxxed.
They put my face on porn star bodies.
My DMs were all "whore" this, "slut" that.
Willa, I'm sorry, but, um Since you're here, how about How about you have a seat, and sort of walk us Walk us through what happened? In the video, you said you were invited to To a party at the Wheelhouse? Um, it was more like, a tryout.
Diggy Wheeler, Tate, Liam, and I, we were filming some content, and, it was amazing, at first.
Okay Until it wasn't.
We were doing shots in the hot tub.
I got really dizzy, and then Tate and Liam took me downstairs.
Downstairs where? To Tate's bedroom, and then that's when they locked the door.
And they said that I was gonna get what I came for.
Some of their Brotherly love.
And what did they mean by that? [SOMBER MUSIC.]
Tate got on top of me, and then Liam.
And I was, I was crying and telling them no.
I must have passed out.
I-I woke up, and my My clothes were off.
I was a mess And, I just wanted to get out of there.
Is there a chance, any of this was recorded? No.
They said that if there's no video It never happened.
Did you tell anyone? Yeah, my My friend Kavon.
He found me in the bathroom, and he said we should call the cops.
And I wanted to be asked to join the house.
I warned Willa about Tate and Liam.
Those two They get away with whatever they want.
Please tell me that they're going down.
Well, we're still investigating.
I know that they raped her.
I saw her right after.
She was hysterical.
I said, "Let's go to the hospital," but Would you be willing to give a statement? Testify, if we needed you to? Absolutely.
I quit that house two months ago.
The only reason I was there was to protect Willa.
Well, Kavon backed me up, so can't you just arrest those guys? The case is a little more complicated than that.
Willa, you didn't get a rape kit.
You didn't report right away.
And none of that means you weren't assaulted, but these boys are gonna lawyer up, as soon as we question them.
Which is why, we want you to talk to them first, while we listen in.
Well, Diggy's the only one who wants to talk to me.
Diggy Wheeler? How do you know that? Well, after I posted the video, he texted me saying he wants to apologize.
How about you text him back then? Unfortunately, there's no news on Rita Lasku.
The diner where she worked, claimed that she quit last week.
They can't go up against Albi.
I may have somebody who will.
He claims that he's a vigilante in the Albanian community, so I'll keep you posted.
But while I have you on the phone, I'd like to borrow one of your detectives.
[POP MUSIC.]
Thanks for meeting me, Willa.
Can I get you something to drink? - No, thanks.
- Okay.
Uh, why don't we go outside? Okay.
Yeah, we're gonna celebrate Got a lot of love I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry you were so upset.
You're not sorry that Tate and Liam raped me? Willa, those guys told me everything that happened was consensual.
I was even a little bit jealous, but I get it.
You don't like me that way.
I didn't like them that way either.
Look, I know you were unhappy, that we didn't invite you to join the house, but, maybe we can find a way to collaborate on Well, well, well.
Guys, get out.
If it isn't the girl who cried rape.
You guys can't be here.
Well, last time I checked, it's our house, so Well, I thought I thought Wheeler said that those guys weren't gonna be home.
Did he set her up? What the hell are you doing here? You said you were going to apologize, but, there's nothing to apologize for.
Yes, there is.
What you guys did to me was not Exactly what you came for.
All right, back up.
Just give her some space.
Not until she apologizes for that desperate video.
Look, the fans need to know that you're okay, and we're all fam.
No, I'm I'm not okay.
- I-I didn't want you guys - Uh-oh.
- She's getting upset.
- Ugh.
Okay, the fans don't want to see you melting down again, so, don't do that.
It's bad for your brand.
- I-I didn't want you guys - Whoa, whoa.
Tate's right.
You need to tell people your little video was just a stunt.
- Smile.
- We - Don't do - Are live From the Wheelhouse with our girl Willa, and there is, nothing but love between us, right, Willa? No doubt, no doubt, since day one.
They're livestreaming this.
You all probably knew her from her dancing vids, but I bet you didn't know she'd pull a fast one.
She's terrified.
Go.
- Yeah.
- Go, I'll text Jet.
I know Willa the stunt queen had some of y'all real shook - Mm-hmm.
- With her video.
But she was just playing the whole time, right, boo? Hey, guys, gotcha.
BOTH: Aww.
- Love you.
- Love you.
You heard it here first, kids.
NYPD.
Get away from her now.
Yo, what, cops? - What the hell, Wheeler? - I have no idea what's going on.
I do.
She set us up.
Back off, and shut your mouth.
A frisky one.
Who the hell are you? NYPD.
She told me you guys invited her.
Almost too easy.
Why don't we talk about this downtown? Go, now.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
You okay? They just assaulted me all over again, and the whole world was watching.
I know Willa the stunt queen had some of y'all real shook - Mm-hmm.
- With her video.
But she was just playing the whole time, right, boo? Hey, guys - Gotcha.
- BOTH: Aww.
- Love you.
- Aw, love you.
You heard it here first, kids.
Is this girl credible, or is she just playing us to gain followers? She's defaulting to her online persona.
Listen, this is the social media version of texting your rapist the next day.
You remember that, Carisi.
Yeah, I do.
It's just different when you know your jury's gonna see it.
The boys have lawyered up already? They're 21, and they make more in a month, than we do in a year combined.
What do you think? - I didn't want you guys - Whoa, whoa.
Tate's right.
You need to tell people that little video of yours, - was just a stunt.
- It literally was a stunt.
Tate.
Counselor, Detective.
I appreciate your attempt to trap my clients, but, there's nothing incriminating here.
If there was, they'd be under arrest right now, huh? They're not under arrest, yet.
But they did try to coerce Willa into absolving them, and then they streamed it live.
She did absolve them.
- Live.
- She was ambushed.
They weren't supposed to be there.
Well, it's our house.
- She was trespassing - Mm-mm.
Sorry.
You have one weak tape, all right, so, let's look at all the tapes.
One party video, one deleted video, and one absolution video, that 3 million people liked.
That still doesn't answer why Wheeler reached out to Willa wanting to make an apology.
Wheeler was there.
He saw how into us Willa was.
He knows nothing happened that she didn't want to happen.
- Tate.
- No cap.
The only reason he apologized is he's worried about his image.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
First of all, I want your assurance that my client is not a suspect.
Yeah, Willa didn't name him, but it's an ongoing investigation.
Why don't you tell us what happened that night, Diggy? Sit down.
Um, I invited Willa over.
We shot some content, and then we all got into the hot tub.
I had to take a call, so Tate and Liam took her downstairs.
Where they gang-raped her.
They told me she was into it.
That the three of them were partying.
Then why did you call her to apologize? She was upset, I I'd invited her.
I felt responsible.
It's not easy running a house like this.
Everybody second-guessing you.
I try really hard to be the good guy, and all I get is burned.
So the boys are backing each other up.
- That's not a surprise.
- No, it's not.
But this is a she said, deleted what she said, and then backtracked what she said.
Did anybody else in the house that night see anything? If they did, they're not talking.
The house is trending, so nobody wants to get kicked out right now.
Everybody there posts 24/7.
Have we gone through all their videos? They all show Willa having a great time with these guys.
Singing, dancing, in the hot tub.
I got you a subpoena for the house security cameras.
- Where are we on that? - Nowhere.
There's no cameras in the bedrooms.
Also not a surprise, but the defense is gonna muddy this up six ways from Sunday.
Hang on.
I just got a text from Jet.
Liam and Tate made another video.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
We're gonna get real for a minute about what actually happened with Willa.
It's time for us to come clean.
The truth is We double-teamed that pick-me girl.
And if she said she didn't want it, she's lying.
You know why? Well, she couldn't say anything.
- Her mouth was too full.
- [LAUGHTER.]
Oh, and the cops, and that dumbass DA? Yeah, they brought us down to the station, but, had to let us go.
Enemies of the people.
Stay woke.
Stay vigilant.
- Peace.
- Wheelhouse.
Please tell me that that's an admission of rape.
That affect, enough to bury them with the jury.
Let's pick them up.
Go.
Docket #24516.
People versus Tate and Liam Rivers.
Tell them to put the phones down.
Everyone, turn off your phones.
On the charges of rape one, and unlawful imprisonment, how do you plead? Not guilty, Your Honor.
- People on bail.
- We request $3 million, Your Honor, and also that the defendants surrender their passports.
They have no record.
They're respected members of our community, and they're looking forward to proving their innocence.
Well, that isn't what I saw in the video.
I'd advise your clients not to litigate this on social media, TikTok, YouTube.
I don't care what tube.
Bail is set at 1 million.
Thanks again for your support.
And remember, this is not our fault.
Not even Willa's, you know? She didn't go to the cops.
They went to her, so blame them.
You want a selfie, huh? Yeah.
Let's go, let's go! Didn't the judge just tell them not to litigate this - on social media? - They don't know the difference between the real world and the virtual world.
Look! It's that dumbass prosecutor.
With the cops in the video.
Free Tate and Liam! - ALL: Boo! - Hey.
Are you guys kidding me right now? - Guys.
- This is great content.
- Rollins, let's go, let's go.
- Guys, back off.
Hey, Wheelhouse fans, let's be cool.
Guys, back off! Whoa! Hey, I'm really sorry, man.
Yeah, well, your fans aren't.
Are you okay? Come on.
Let's get out of here.
- Wheelhouse! - Wheelhouse! [CROWD JEERING.]
Your Honor, either this case will be tried in the court of TikTok, or in a court of law.
The defendants were already warned at arraignment.
It's time for a gag order.
Is this about a wound to the judicial process or Counselor Carisi's ego? Now, a gag order would deprive my clients of their livelihood, and their First Amendment rights.
It should suffice to instruct the jury - to stay off social media.
- Respectfully, you can instruct all you want, Your Honor.
But the jury can't stay off of social media.
They're already googling every witness in the elevator on the way down to Center Street.
I agree, it's an issue.
While I can't ban everybody from the internet, I can strongly admonish all parties from posting anything about the case.
You're inching towards being charged with inciting a riot.
Is that understood, gentlemen? Totally.
Is that a "yes," Mr.
Rivers? BOTH: Yes, Your Honor.
Judge didn't go for a gag order? Not officially, but she did put everyone on notice.
I want to tell my fans I can't post anything until the trial is over.
The arc of the moral universe bends towards justice, and Willa, how's everything going? You really can't be talking to her.
I get that, I-I just want to say that I'm sorry about what happened out there the other day.
- That's not our fanbase.
- Really? Isn't that the same fanbase that's rooting for Tate and Liam to get away with raping me? Let's go, Willa.
- I really am sorry.
- Are you? Then why are you testifying for those guys? They told me nothing happened.
You're a smart kid, Wheeler.
Ask yourself, who has more reason to lie? [SOMBER MUSIC.]
Captain Benson, in your experience, is it unusual for a victim to come forward on social media? Actually, no.
Um, public online disclosures are becoming more and more common.
Many survivors like to disclose within their social media networks, because it gives them an enhanced sense of control.
And, in Willa Bartola's case, that was TikTok.
But, despite having recorded the video minutes after the assault, Willa didn't post it until a week later.
And that's not unusual either.
Willa was traumatized.
She was trying to stay in the good graces of her rapist.
Victims can take far longer to come forward.
Months, even Even years.
Thank you, Captain.
So she waited a week.
Maybe that's not unusual, but it does happen to coincide with the day that she learned that she wasn't invited to join the house.
Doesn't that give her another motive? In my experience as an SVU captain, I believe that she was reacting to her assault.
But you're positive that she wasn't reacting in anger to being rejected? - Objection.
- Overruled.
The witness may answer.
There are many reasons, why a survivor delays reporting.
Including trying to get more followers? I don't think that was the case here.
But you can't know that for sure.
It was late.
I hadn't seen Willa for a while.
I went looking for her.
Found her in a bathroom.
A mess Crying.
And what did she tell you had happened? That Tate and Liam trapped her in a bedroom, and assaulted her.
I told her that we should get a rape kit.
But she refused.
She was having a panic attack.
I should have called 911 myself.
Willa's my girl.
I've never seen her so upset.
Did you see Tate and Liam do anything to Willa? I wasn't in the bedroom.
No.
You parted with the Wheelhouse a few months ago on bad terms? You could say that.
So bad that you wiped all collabs from your profile? Just Tate and Liam's.
I've got no issue with Diggy Wheeler.
Oh, so you do have a problem with Tate and Liam? Yeah, I got a problem.
They're homophobic, misogynistic asses.
Well, I don't know, folks.
Does that sound like the witness has a bias against my client? - Your Honor? - Mr.
Swope.
I am so sorry.
But you don't like them, right? And that has affected your testimony today.
- Your Honor.
- Withdrawn.
Nothing further.
You may step down.
Mr.
Carisi, next witness.
The people call Willa Bartola.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
It's time for us to come clean.
The truth is We double-teamed that pick-me girl.
And if she said she didn't want it, she's lying.
- You know why? - Well, she couldn't say anything.
- Mm.
- Her mouth was too full.
That must be painful to watch.
It was.
And, I know that people think I did all of this for followers, but I would never falsely accuse anyone of rape.
Thank you for coming forward, Willa.
I know this hasn't been easy.
Ms.
Bartola, the day you visited the Wheelhouse, you made a video with Tate and Liam.
- Isn't that right? - Yes.
And after that video went viral, you gained a million followers and received two dozen brand ambassador offers.
You must have been riding high.
Half of me was.
Because the other half of you wanted more followers? No, I-I lost followers.
I was bullied, harassed.
So your strategy backfired.
I guess that's why you deleted it? Withdrawn.
Let me ask you.
You're familiar with a TikTok star from an L.
A.
content house named Blair Brooks? Yes, but I don't know her.
But you've seen her videos though? - Yeah.
- Exhibit H.
A 12-minute YouTube clip, posted by Blair Brooks, the week before you visited the Wheelhouse.
Objection.
Relevance.
Well, in the video, Blair accuses a member of her house of rape.
I would like Willa to read the comment she wrote.
I'll allow.
"Love to see you speak out about this dirtbag.
" "Take him down.
Cancel him.
" "Hope you get all his followers.
" After posting her video, Blair gained 2 million new followers.
The day you liked Blair's video you started DMing with Tate.
At the house, the three of you made sexually suggestive videos.
You flirted with them in a hot tub.
Were you Setting them up, all this time? Of course not.
Diggy Wheeler invited me to the house.
But you did send sexual DMs to Tate? That was a mistake.
Well, you seem to be making a lot of them.
Ms.
Bartola, put yourself in the mindset of this jury.
You earn your living making up content.
Well, how can you expect these good people to know which of your videos are real, and which are modern-day performance art? [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
They think I'm going through all of this to get famous? No, it's just the defense's strategy.
It doesn't mean the jury believes it.
Hey, what are you looking at? How do you sleep at night, after you let your superstar bros rape me? - I didn't do that! - No? They told me that's why you invited me to the house.
- Wait, what? - Willa, he's not worth it.
Come on.
I would never set up any girl like that, especially Willa.
You know what, Diggy, you keep saying that you care about her.
But you threw her to those dogs.
- Carisi.
- I'm coming, I'm coming.
- Don't go anywhere.
- No.
Carisi, you gotta look at this.
- What? - Look.
Wheeler's livestreaming.
It took me too long to realize it, but I failed to look out for Willa.
Tate and Liam did assault her.
I didn't want to see that side of them.
I should have believed Willa and Kavon, from the start.
No means no.
There's no excuse.
Willa, stay strong.
I hope, someday you'll find it in your heart to forgive me.
I mean this is a good thing, right? No, not really.
After the defense sees this, they're gonna move for a mistrial.
And then, after what happened today, there's no chance that Willa's gonna agree to testify again.
Mr.
Swope, I seem to remember issuing a rather stern warning about the use of social media in this case.
But then I thought, "Maybe I imagined it.
" Your Honor, we had no prior knowledge to this tape.
And, although we have listed Mr.
Wheeler as a defense witness, obviously that is no longer the case.
- Mr.
Wheeler? - I'm sorry.
My fans were barraging me with questions.
I owed them an answer.
But I deleted the video, Your Honor.
As if that helps.
Given that there's no way to ensure the jury hasn't seen the video, we move for a mistrial.
The jury has seen far worse, Your Honor.
And now that the defense is no longer interested in Mr.
Wheeler's testimony, I'll be calling him as a witness for the prosecution.
Your Honor, this is the first I'm hearing of this.
My client has not agreed to testify.
I'm prepared to compel him.
Mr.
Wheeler's shifting testimony is inherently unreliable, and he obviously has an axe to grind with his now former housemates.
You'll have your opportunity to cross-examine, Mr.
Swope.
I'm denying defense's motion for a mistrial.
Mr.
Carisi, call your next witness.
No means no.
There's no excuse.
Willa, stay strong.
I hope someday you'll find it in your heart to forgive me.
Mr.
Wheeler, why did you make that video? Because I believe Willa was sexually assaulted by Tate and Liam.
Objection.
Sustained.
Mr.
Wheeler, you were originally supposed to be a witness for the defense.
Can you explain why you're now testifying for the prosecution? Yes, Uh, I saw Willa after she was cross-examined.
She was shaking Raw, hurt.
I have a lot of experience auditioning performers for my house, and to be honest, she's, not that good of an actress.
Sorry, Willa.
But you did invite her to the house? Yeah, I thought she had a special quality, that she'd fit in.
But you didn't ask her to join, why? The next morning, Tate and Liam told me she'd said negative things about me.
That she was toxic, had bad energy.
But later that day, I overheard them talking about "shutting that bitch down.
" What did you take that to mean? They were trying to discredit any allegation she might make.
I regret not telling the police that earlier.
Well, thank you for coming forward now, Mr.
Wheeler.
In the past, when you've invited female content providers to the house, they didn't provide anything more than content to you, did they? Not really.
No.
But a lot of them hooked up with Tate and/or Liam, right? I guess.
All the women like you, but not that way.
You're a good guy, you Do everything by the book, and then the women come in, and, they don't even see you.
That must gnaw away at you over time.
- Objection.
- Witness may answer, but move along, Mr.
Swope.
I'm not there to hook up.
I run the house.
It wouldn't be professional to cross those lines.
So you do all the work, and then my clients get all the goodies.
And then you met Willa.
She must have seemed special to you.
Defense exhibit J.
27 direct messages sent by Diggy to Willa.
All of them telling Willa how much you love her content, and how you're looking forward to meeting with her.
These all yours? Yes.
So, when the four of you were in the hot tub, and, Willa was flirting with Tate and Liam, how much of that hurt your feelings? Objection, Your Honor.
Mr.
Swope, move on.
Mr.
Wheeler, you reached out to Willa, after she posted her rape video.
Now was that just an excuse to see her again? No, I legitimately felt bad about what had happened to her.
Bad or angry? Because we have a video where she gets out of a hot tub, you put a towel over her.
I was trying to take care of her.
Oh, you weren't trying to get her into your room? No! She-she shouldn't have gone into anybody's room, she was, drunk, I mean, she wasn't a partier.
But you must have seen other girls go into Tate and Liam's room.
Maybe a little high.
Did you object? - I don't, I don't know.
- Hmm.
You didn't.
See, it's not that you're such a great guy.
You just didn't like any of those other girls the way that you liked Willa.
You're jealous, that she wanted my clients, - and not you.
- She didn't want them.
How do you know that? Is that because - You thought she liked you? - She did like me.
And you guys knew that, but you You had to screw me, show me who's really the boss.
Okay.
Mr.
Wheeler, just answer the question.
You kept saying she was bad news.
Your Honor, I think we need a recess.
I don't need a recess.
I need these guys to know that I know the truth.
You raped her because, you wanted me to know that you were the big dogs.
Mr.
Wheeler.
Oh, you're laughing at me? You guys treat everyone around you like crap, but you're the real pieces of crap.
- Mr.
Wheeler - How many girls have I walked out of the house the next morning in tears? I covered for you.
Every time you screwed up, I fixed it.
And then you repay me by assaulting the one girl I really cared about.
Okay! That's enough.
Jury will disregard.
Mr.
Wheeler, I'm holding you in contempt.
Bailiff, take Mr.
Wheeler into holding.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Approach.
Your Honor, despite these late-in-the-game histrionics, the prosecution has failed to make a case.
No rape kit.
No police report.
At this time, we move for a trial order motion for dismissal.
In other words, you don't have a defense, and there's no chance that he's gonna put his knucklehead clients on the stand.
Okay, enough, both of you.
I will not, declare a mistrial, and I will not dismiss this case.
Mr.
Carisi? The prosecution rests, Your Honor.
Mr.
Swope? The defense rests, Your Honor.
Then this case goes to the jury.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
So the judge held Wheeler in contempt? Yeah, and I don't blame her.
You know, Wheeler made it all about himself, not Willa.
And the bright side is, Carisi feels like Wheeler made his case, 'cause Wheeler also mentioned that there are other girls that Tate and Liam may have assaulted.
Well, we can put it out there.
See if any victims come forward.
But the case has been public for a while.
Yeah.
- How's Carisi doing? - [PHONE BUZZES.]
I'm not sure.
But I'll know in about 20 minutes.
Jury just came back.
Elvis is in the house.
Mr.
Baktashi.
My favorite vigilante.
Thank you for coming in.
It's funny.
When I was protecting my neighborhood, you called me a racist, but now you need my help.
I got one condition.
That nobody can know that you're here.
Not the Albanians.
Not Albi Briscu.
Just the opposite.
When you finally take that scumbag down, I want me and the Dyckman Knights front and center with you at that news conference.
Done.
So you know what happened to Rita Lasku? She's being trafficked, but she's not the only one.
Take out your pen.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
The jury will now read the verdict.
On the charge of unlawful imprisonment, we find the defendants not guilty.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.]
- I love you! - Order.
Order! On the charge of rape in the first degree, we find the defendants, not guilty.
- [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.]
- [GAVEL BANGS.]
Order! Order! [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
I am so sorry.
I-I got into social media, because I wanted people to think that's what my life was like.
And this is my actual life.
Who wants to look at that? What happened? They were acquitted, on all charges.
So I'm the only one sitting in a cell right now? You did the right thing, Diggy.
And honestly, after you went off on Tate and Liam, the jury knew you were telling the truth.
They just didn't care.
I saw the way the women in the jury were looking at them, like they always do.
That one in the front with the red hair, ready to lie down and roll over.
You and me, we never had a chance.
- Carisi.
- Hey, I should have called.
Are the girls are asleep? - Yeah, come on in.
- Sorry, I'm This-this couldn't wait till morning.
You remember the jury forewoman? The redhead.
She seemed giddy about the whole thing.
Yeah, that's exactly what I thought, so I did some digging.
Wait, is that her with Tate and Liam? Yeah, outside the courthouse, right after she and the rest of the jurors found him not guilty.
Yeah it is.
That's not all, look at her last tweet.
"You guys, I'm totally freaking out.
" "The Wheelhouse just DMed me," "and invited me over for a collab.
"All goes well, I could be their newest member"? But after the verdict, they can do whatever they want.
Yeah, maybe.
But not before the verdict.
DMing a jury member, during the trial.
Offering her entry to the Wheelhouse.
I'm looking at jury tampering, bribery.
Your Honor, this is the first that I'm hearing about this.
Yeah, well, I should certainly hope so.
We also have evidence, that the defendants DMed a second juror, Brian Cummings, also during the trial, inviting him to become a member of the Wheelhouse in exchange for a not guilty verdict.
And I quote, "If the jury acquits, the Wheelhouse fits.
" Very clever, gentlemen.
Do you have anything to say for yourselves? - That's just how we recruit.
- Yeah.
Like Willa said, the timing is a coincidence.
Okay, that's enough.
Your Honor, I'll have to verify this.
Well, you do so, Mr.
Swope, because if this turns out to be true, your clients could be looking at double digits.
They'll get over ten years in prison? Their lawyer cut a deal, so they'll get seven and they'll be out in five.
Still, they'll be so old.
I just, wanted an apology.
We're so sorry, Willa, and, we did everything that we could.
I know, at least Diggy apologized.
He invited me to join the Wheelhouse.
- Hold on, Willa, are you sure? - This is different.
He invited me and Kavon.
We're gonna rebrand.
A new collective, kind of like a survivor squad.
It'll be a place for survivors of sexual assault, discrimination, mental health issues.
Wheeler certainly knows how to land on his feet, but, it sounds like a good thing.
He did right, and so did Counselor Carisi.
Would you guys thank him for me? We can do that.
He's a nice guy.
To me, he's one of the good ones.
And for what it's worth, I can see how much he likes you.
So we are looking at sex trafficking.
Does your informant have any idea where Rita is? No, but he did find out that there is a shipment of new prospects coming in from Albania 12 underage girls.
- When does the plane land? - Eight hours from now, at JFK.
I'll let Stabler know.
Make sure he's part of the crew picking up the girls.
We may need your ongoing help with this, Captain.
Always.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
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.
[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING.]
Now work they say I lean when I step Swag it one time and lean to the left Now work, baby girl Why are Tate and Liam so cute? I can't believe they invited me to the Wheelhouse.
I thought Diggy Wheeler invited you? Well, yeah, technically.
But I've been DMing with Tate.
Diggy's house, his rules.
- Show him respect.
- Mm-hmm.
And Tate and Liam can be Fun, creative.
Really, really sexy.
Don't give me that look.
This could be a huge break for me.
Posting content with these guys could bring me to 6 million overnight.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
I'm not gonna let you go into that lion's den alone.
I'm coming with.
Now close.
If someone pushed me out I think that I'd do the same This is it.
The Wheelhouse.
Holy freaking I mean are you kidding me with this place? I know.
Never gets old.
So it's one thing to look at the skyline from Jersey.
But it's another to be on top of it.
[BRIGHT POP MUSIC.]
Come on.
Fun times.
Diggy Wheeler.
How are you doing? It's good to be the king.
And you must be Willa.
You're as pretty in real life as you are in your videos.
That never happens.
No one told me you were here.
Well, you snooze, you lose.
We were just giving her a tour.
What do you think, Willa? This place is sick.
Well, I'm glad you like it.
Maybe we'll find a spot for you.
Oh, I've got lots of content ideas.
- Which is why you're here.
- Mm-hmm.
["KISS ME MORE" BY DOJA CA FEAT.
SZA PLAYING.]
We hug and yes, we make love And always just say goodnight La la la la la And we cuddle, sure, I do love it But I need your lips on mine Can you kiss me more? We're so young, boy, we ain't got nothing to lose Oh, oh, it's just principle Baby, hold me 'Cause I like the way you groove Oh oh Boy, you write your name, I can do the same [MUSIC PLAYS FROM SPEAKERS.]
Yo, check it out.
Hit a million views.
- Already? - Yep.
That's insane.
Think you could get used to this? Getting paid to make videos all day? It comes with the territory.
Dude, it is the territory.
All right.
Vibe check.
Shots and then hot tub action, eh? - Yeah.
- Hey.
Oh, God.
I'm such a lightweight.
All right, welcome to the Wheelhouse.
- Hey.
- Ooh! Cheers.
- Oh, yeah, baby.
- Ugh.
- Wow.
- [COUGHS.]
[UPBEAT MUSIC.]
- Willa, are you all right? - Me? I'm I'm totally I'm fine.
Whoa, whoa, easy.
Yo, everything Gucci over there? [MUTTERING.]
I'm good.
Hey, you Um, you need to lie down.
There's a guest room downstairs.
Okay.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Thank you.
Oh, it's our business manager, - Lenny.
- Oh.
I can call him back.
Dude, take the call.
That's why you're the boss.
We'll help Willa downstairs.
Poor Willa.
- Easy.
- I'm sorry.
Oh, careful.
- You're good.
- Okay.
[LAUGHING.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Willa? Honey, I've been [SOBBING.]
Mom Mom, look.
TikTok, Noah? I said no phones at the table.
Just look.
You guys, I'm here at the Wheelhouse.
We were partying tonight.
And Tate and Liam they just, raped me.
I don't know whether to post this, or go to SVU or pretend like it was a bad dream.
- Who is this? - Willa Bartola, a dancer.
You guys, I'm here at the Wheelhouse.
Well, she must have deleted it.
It's not there anymore.
If the video's gone, does that mean you can't help her? No, it doesn't, honey.
Sweetie, remember how I keep telling you, once you post something on the internet, it stays there forever.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
You guys, I'm here at the Wheelhouse.
We were partying tonight, and, Tate and Liam they just raped me.
So she's a TikTok star? According to Noah.
So she posts this video, and then she deletes it.
But, not before everybody copied it? - Do we know when she posted it? - No, Carisi, we don't, and to be honest with you, I don't really know what we're looking at here.
- That makes two of us.
- Hmm.
Sorry to interrupt.
Detective, yes.
Sergeant Bell told me that, that OC was looking for our help to find a missing girl.
Her name's Rita Lasku.
- Do you mind? - Of course.
Stabler found her passport in the closet of an Albanian gang higher-up, along with a dozen others.
All young Albanian women.
They're holding passports.
That means they're trafficking them.
That's why I'm here.
Stabler got close to Rita when she was waitressing in a diner.
She's been missing for a few days.
Did he ask about her at the diner? They claimed she was sick.
- He can't really pursue.
- Well, we can, and we will look into it.
Thanks.
Wait, that's Willa Bartola.
- Did something happen to her? - You know her? Everybody knows her.
Not everyone.
A rising star.
She blew up last week when she posted a dance video with the Wheelhouse guys.
Yeah Tate and Liam.
Rivers, so you do know them? She's claiming that those two raped her.
At a party at the Wheelhouse.
That's rough.
I'm not entirely surprised.
I get a bad vibe.
Back up.
What is the Wheelhouse? It's a content house.
Meaning? Groups of influencers live together and crank out videos 24/7.
The Wheelhouse is the brainchild of Diggy Wheeler.
Kind of a nerd who's broken through.
So Willa went there looking for her 15 minutes? More like 15 million followers.
If you get invited into that house, you're a superstar.
Endorsement deals, money pouring in.
If it works out.
Looks like it didn't.
Willa, thank you for meeting us.
That video you posted, you made that right after you were assaulted? Yeah, I went back and forth on whether or not to post it, and then I finally decided, everybody needs to know who these guys really are.
Okay, but then you took it down.
- I had to.
- Why? You wouldn't believe the hate I was getting from Wheelhouse fans.
I was doxxed.
They put my face on porn star bodies.
My DMs were all "whore" this, "slut" that.
Willa, I'm sorry, but, um Since you're here, how about How about you have a seat, and sort of walk us Walk us through what happened? In the video, you said you were invited to To a party at the Wheelhouse? Um, it was more like, a tryout.
Diggy Wheeler, Tate, Liam, and I, we were filming some content, and, it was amazing, at first.
Okay Until it wasn't.
We were doing shots in the hot tub.
I got really dizzy, and then Tate and Liam took me downstairs.
Downstairs where? To Tate's bedroom, and then that's when they locked the door.
And they said that I was gonna get what I came for.
Some of their Brotherly love.
And what did they mean by that? [SOMBER MUSIC.]
Tate got on top of me, and then Liam.
And I was, I was crying and telling them no.
I must have passed out.
I-I woke up, and my My clothes were off.
I was a mess And, I just wanted to get out of there.
Is there a chance, any of this was recorded? No.
They said that if there's no video It never happened.
Did you tell anyone? Yeah, my My friend Kavon.
He found me in the bathroom, and he said we should call the cops.
And I wanted to be asked to join the house.
I warned Willa about Tate and Liam.
Those two They get away with whatever they want.
Please tell me that they're going down.
Well, we're still investigating.
I know that they raped her.
I saw her right after.
She was hysterical.
I said, "Let's go to the hospital," but Would you be willing to give a statement? Testify, if we needed you to? Absolutely.
I quit that house two months ago.
The only reason I was there was to protect Willa.
Well, Kavon backed me up, so can't you just arrest those guys? The case is a little more complicated than that.
Willa, you didn't get a rape kit.
You didn't report right away.
And none of that means you weren't assaulted, but these boys are gonna lawyer up, as soon as we question them.
Which is why, we want you to talk to them first, while we listen in.
Well, Diggy's the only one who wants to talk to me.
Diggy Wheeler? How do you know that? Well, after I posted the video, he texted me saying he wants to apologize.
How about you text him back then? Unfortunately, there's no news on Rita Lasku.
The diner where she worked, claimed that she quit last week.
They can't go up against Albi.
I may have somebody who will.
He claims that he's a vigilante in the Albanian community, so I'll keep you posted.
But while I have you on the phone, I'd like to borrow one of your detectives.
[POP MUSIC.]
Thanks for meeting me, Willa.
Can I get you something to drink? - No, thanks.
- Okay.
Uh, why don't we go outside? Okay.
Yeah, we're gonna celebrate Got a lot of love I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry you were so upset.
You're not sorry that Tate and Liam raped me? Willa, those guys told me everything that happened was consensual.
I was even a little bit jealous, but I get it.
You don't like me that way.
I didn't like them that way either.
Look, I know you were unhappy, that we didn't invite you to join the house, but, maybe we can find a way to collaborate on Well, well, well.
Guys, get out.
If it isn't the girl who cried rape.
You guys can't be here.
Well, last time I checked, it's our house, so Well, I thought I thought Wheeler said that those guys weren't gonna be home.
Did he set her up? What the hell are you doing here? You said you were going to apologize, but, there's nothing to apologize for.
Yes, there is.
What you guys did to me was not Exactly what you came for.
All right, back up.
Just give her some space.
Not until she apologizes for that desperate video.
Look, the fans need to know that you're okay, and we're all fam.
No, I'm I'm not okay.
- I-I didn't want you guys - Uh-oh.
- She's getting upset.
- Ugh.
Okay, the fans don't want to see you melting down again, so, don't do that.
It's bad for your brand.
- I-I didn't want you guys - Whoa, whoa.
Tate's right.
You need to tell people your little video was just a stunt.
- Smile.
- We - Don't do - Are live From the Wheelhouse with our girl Willa, and there is, nothing but love between us, right, Willa? No doubt, no doubt, since day one.
They're livestreaming this.
You all probably knew her from her dancing vids, but I bet you didn't know she'd pull a fast one.
She's terrified.
Go.
- Yeah.
- Go, I'll text Jet.
I know Willa the stunt queen had some of y'all real shook - Mm-hmm.
- With her video.
But she was just playing the whole time, right, boo? Hey, guys, gotcha.
BOTH: Aww.
- Love you.
- Love you.
You heard it here first, kids.
NYPD.
Get away from her now.
Yo, what, cops? - What the hell, Wheeler? - I have no idea what's going on.
I do.
She set us up.
Back off, and shut your mouth.
A frisky one.
Who the hell are you? NYPD.
She told me you guys invited her.
Almost too easy.
Why don't we talk about this downtown? Go, now.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
You okay? They just assaulted me all over again, and the whole world was watching.
I know Willa the stunt queen had some of y'all real shook - Mm-hmm.
- With her video.
But she was just playing the whole time, right, boo? Hey, guys - Gotcha.
- BOTH: Aww.
- Love you.
- Aw, love you.
You heard it here first, kids.
Is this girl credible, or is she just playing us to gain followers? She's defaulting to her online persona.
Listen, this is the social media version of texting your rapist the next day.
You remember that, Carisi.
Yeah, I do.
It's just different when you know your jury's gonna see it.
The boys have lawyered up already? They're 21, and they make more in a month, than we do in a year combined.
What do you think? - I didn't want you guys - Whoa, whoa.
Tate's right.
You need to tell people that little video of yours, - was just a stunt.
- It literally was a stunt.
Tate.
Counselor, Detective.
I appreciate your attempt to trap my clients, but, there's nothing incriminating here.
If there was, they'd be under arrest right now, huh? They're not under arrest, yet.
But they did try to coerce Willa into absolving them, and then they streamed it live.
She did absolve them.
- Live.
- She was ambushed.
They weren't supposed to be there.
Well, it's our house.
- She was trespassing - Mm-mm.
Sorry.
You have one weak tape, all right, so, let's look at all the tapes.
One party video, one deleted video, and one absolution video, that 3 million people liked.
That still doesn't answer why Wheeler reached out to Willa wanting to make an apology.
Wheeler was there.
He saw how into us Willa was.
He knows nothing happened that she didn't want to happen.
- Tate.
- No cap.
The only reason he apologized is he's worried about his image.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
First of all, I want your assurance that my client is not a suspect.
Yeah, Willa didn't name him, but it's an ongoing investigation.
Why don't you tell us what happened that night, Diggy? Sit down.
Um, I invited Willa over.
We shot some content, and then we all got into the hot tub.
I had to take a call, so Tate and Liam took her downstairs.
Where they gang-raped her.
They told me she was into it.
That the three of them were partying.
Then why did you call her to apologize? She was upset, I I'd invited her.
I felt responsible.
It's not easy running a house like this.
Everybody second-guessing you.
I try really hard to be the good guy, and all I get is burned.
So the boys are backing each other up.
- That's not a surprise.
- No, it's not.
But this is a she said, deleted what she said, and then backtracked what she said.
Did anybody else in the house that night see anything? If they did, they're not talking.
The house is trending, so nobody wants to get kicked out right now.
Everybody there posts 24/7.
Have we gone through all their videos? They all show Willa having a great time with these guys.
Singing, dancing, in the hot tub.
I got you a subpoena for the house security cameras.
- Where are we on that? - Nowhere.
There's no cameras in the bedrooms.
Also not a surprise, but the defense is gonna muddy this up six ways from Sunday.
Hang on.
I just got a text from Jet.
Liam and Tate made another video.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
We're gonna get real for a minute about what actually happened with Willa.
It's time for us to come clean.
The truth is We double-teamed that pick-me girl.
And if she said she didn't want it, she's lying.
You know why? Well, she couldn't say anything.
- Her mouth was too full.
- [LAUGHTER.]
Oh, and the cops, and that dumbass DA? Yeah, they brought us down to the station, but, had to let us go.
Enemies of the people.
Stay woke.
Stay vigilant.
- Peace.
- Wheelhouse.
Please tell me that that's an admission of rape.
That affect, enough to bury them with the jury.
Let's pick them up.
Go.
Docket #24516.
People versus Tate and Liam Rivers.
Tell them to put the phones down.
Everyone, turn off your phones.
On the charges of rape one, and unlawful imprisonment, how do you plead? Not guilty, Your Honor.
- People on bail.
- We request $3 million, Your Honor, and also that the defendants surrender their passports.
They have no record.
They're respected members of our community, and they're looking forward to proving their innocence.
Well, that isn't what I saw in the video.
I'd advise your clients not to litigate this on social media, TikTok, YouTube.
I don't care what tube.
Bail is set at 1 million.
Thanks again for your support.
And remember, this is not our fault.
Not even Willa's, you know? She didn't go to the cops.
They went to her, so blame them.
You want a selfie, huh? Yeah.
Let's go, let's go! Didn't the judge just tell them not to litigate this - on social media? - They don't know the difference between the real world and the virtual world.
Look! It's that dumbass prosecutor.
With the cops in the video.
Free Tate and Liam! - ALL: Boo! - Hey.
Are you guys kidding me right now? - Guys.
- This is great content.
- Rollins, let's go, let's go.
- Guys, back off.
Hey, Wheelhouse fans, let's be cool.
Guys, back off! Whoa! Hey, I'm really sorry, man.
Yeah, well, your fans aren't.
Are you okay? Come on.
Let's get out of here.
- Wheelhouse! - Wheelhouse! [CROWD JEERING.]
Your Honor, either this case will be tried in the court of TikTok, or in a court of law.
The defendants were already warned at arraignment.
It's time for a gag order.
Is this about a wound to the judicial process or Counselor Carisi's ego? Now, a gag order would deprive my clients of their livelihood, and their First Amendment rights.
It should suffice to instruct the jury - to stay off social media.
- Respectfully, you can instruct all you want, Your Honor.
But the jury can't stay off of social media.
They're already googling every witness in the elevator on the way down to Center Street.
I agree, it's an issue.
While I can't ban everybody from the internet, I can strongly admonish all parties from posting anything about the case.
You're inching towards being charged with inciting a riot.
Is that understood, gentlemen? Totally.
Is that a "yes," Mr.
Rivers? BOTH: Yes, Your Honor.
Judge didn't go for a gag order? Not officially, but she did put everyone on notice.
I want to tell my fans I can't post anything until the trial is over.
The arc of the moral universe bends towards justice, and Willa, how's everything going? You really can't be talking to her.
I get that, I-I just want to say that I'm sorry about what happened out there the other day.
- That's not our fanbase.
- Really? Isn't that the same fanbase that's rooting for Tate and Liam to get away with raping me? Let's go, Willa.
- I really am sorry.
- Are you? Then why are you testifying for those guys? They told me nothing happened.
You're a smart kid, Wheeler.
Ask yourself, who has more reason to lie? [SOMBER MUSIC.]
Captain Benson, in your experience, is it unusual for a victim to come forward on social media? Actually, no.
Um, public online disclosures are becoming more and more common.
Many survivors like to disclose within their social media networks, because it gives them an enhanced sense of control.
And, in Willa Bartola's case, that was TikTok.
But, despite having recorded the video minutes after the assault, Willa didn't post it until a week later.
And that's not unusual either.
Willa was traumatized.
She was trying to stay in the good graces of her rapist.
Victims can take far longer to come forward.
Months, even Even years.
Thank you, Captain.
So she waited a week.
Maybe that's not unusual, but it does happen to coincide with the day that she learned that she wasn't invited to join the house.
Doesn't that give her another motive? In my experience as an SVU captain, I believe that she was reacting to her assault.
But you're positive that she wasn't reacting in anger to being rejected? - Objection.
- Overruled.
The witness may answer.
There are many reasons, why a survivor delays reporting.
Including trying to get more followers? I don't think that was the case here.
But you can't know that for sure.
It was late.
I hadn't seen Willa for a while.
I went looking for her.
Found her in a bathroom.
A mess Crying.
And what did she tell you had happened? That Tate and Liam trapped her in a bedroom, and assaulted her.
I told her that we should get a rape kit.
But she refused.
She was having a panic attack.
I should have called 911 myself.
Willa's my girl.
I've never seen her so upset.
Did you see Tate and Liam do anything to Willa? I wasn't in the bedroom.
No.
You parted with the Wheelhouse a few months ago on bad terms? You could say that.
So bad that you wiped all collabs from your profile? Just Tate and Liam's.
I've got no issue with Diggy Wheeler.
Oh, so you do have a problem with Tate and Liam? Yeah, I got a problem.
They're homophobic, misogynistic asses.
Well, I don't know, folks.
Does that sound like the witness has a bias against my client? - Your Honor? - Mr.
Swope.
I am so sorry.
But you don't like them, right? And that has affected your testimony today.
- Your Honor.
- Withdrawn.
Nothing further.
You may step down.
Mr.
Carisi, next witness.
The people call Willa Bartola.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
It's time for us to come clean.
The truth is We double-teamed that pick-me girl.
And if she said she didn't want it, she's lying.
- You know why? - Well, she couldn't say anything.
- Mm.
- Her mouth was too full.
That must be painful to watch.
It was.
And, I know that people think I did all of this for followers, but I would never falsely accuse anyone of rape.
Thank you for coming forward, Willa.
I know this hasn't been easy.
Ms.
Bartola, the day you visited the Wheelhouse, you made a video with Tate and Liam.
- Isn't that right? - Yes.
And after that video went viral, you gained a million followers and received two dozen brand ambassador offers.
You must have been riding high.
Half of me was.
Because the other half of you wanted more followers? No, I-I lost followers.
I was bullied, harassed.
So your strategy backfired.
I guess that's why you deleted it? Withdrawn.
Let me ask you.
You're familiar with a TikTok star from an L.
A.
content house named Blair Brooks? Yes, but I don't know her.
But you've seen her videos though? - Yeah.
- Exhibit H.
A 12-minute YouTube clip, posted by Blair Brooks, the week before you visited the Wheelhouse.
Objection.
Relevance.
Well, in the video, Blair accuses a member of her house of rape.
I would like Willa to read the comment she wrote.
I'll allow.
"Love to see you speak out about this dirtbag.
" "Take him down.
Cancel him.
" "Hope you get all his followers.
" After posting her video, Blair gained 2 million new followers.
The day you liked Blair's video you started DMing with Tate.
At the house, the three of you made sexually suggestive videos.
You flirted with them in a hot tub.
Were you Setting them up, all this time? Of course not.
Diggy Wheeler invited me to the house.
But you did send sexual DMs to Tate? That was a mistake.
Well, you seem to be making a lot of them.
Ms.
Bartola, put yourself in the mindset of this jury.
You earn your living making up content.
Well, how can you expect these good people to know which of your videos are real, and which are modern-day performance art? [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
They think I'm going through all of this to get famous? No, it's just the defense's strategy.
It doesn't mean the jury believes it.
Hey, what are you looking at? How do you sleep at night, after you let your superstar bros rape me? - I didn't do that! - No? They told me that's why you invited me to the house.
- Wait, what? - Willa, he's not worth it.
Come on.
I would never set up any girl like that, especially Willa.
You know what, Diggy, you keep saying that you care about her.
But you threw her to those dogs.
- Carisi.
- I'm coming, I'm coming.
- Don't go anywhere.
- No.
Carisi, you gotta look at this.
- What? - Look.
Wheeler's livestreaming.
It took me too long to realize it, but I failed to look out for Willa.
Tate and Liam did assault her.
I didn't want to see that side of them.
I should have believed Willa and Kavon, from the start.
No means no.
There's no excuse.
Willa, stay strong.
I hope, someday you'll find it in your heart to forgive me.
I mean this is a good thing, right? No, not really.
After the defense sees this, they're gonna move for a mistrial.
And then, after what happened today, there's no chance that Willa's gonna agree to testify again.
Mr.
Swope, I seem to remember issuing a rather stern warning about the use of social media in this case.
But then I thought, "Maybe I imagined it.
" Your Honor, we had no prior knowledge to this tape.
And, although we have listed Mr.
Wheeler as a defense witness, obviously that is no longer the case.
- Mr.
Wheeler? - I'm sorry.
My fans were barraging me with questions.
I owed them an answer.
But I deleted the video, Your Honor.
As if that helps.
Given that there's no way to ensure the jury hasn't seen the video, we move for a mistrial.
The jury has seen far worse, Your Honor.
And now that the defense is no longer interested in Mr.
Wheeler's testimony, I'll be calling him as a witness for the prosecution.
Your Honor, this is the first I'm hearing of this.
My client has not agreed to testify.
I'm prepared to compel him.
Mr.
Wheeler's shifting testimony is inherently unreliable, and he obviously has an axe to grind with his now former housemates.
You'll have your opportunity to cross-examine, Mr.
Swope.
I'm denying defense's motion for a mistrial.
Mr.
Carisi, call your next witness.
No means no.
There's no excuse.
Willa, stay strong.
I hope someday you'll find it in your heart to forgive me.
Mr.
Wheeler, why did you make that video? Because I believe Willa was sexually assaulted by Tate and Liam.
Objection.
Sustained.
Mr.
Wheeler, you were originally supposed to be a witness for the defense.
Can you explain why you're now testifying for the prosecution? Yes, Uh, I saw Willa after she was cross-examined.
She was shaking Raw, hurt.
I have a lot of experience auditioning performers for my house, and to be honest, she's, not that good of an actress.
Sorry, Willa.
But you did invite her to the house? Yeah, I thought she had a special quality, that she'd fit in.
But you didn't ask her to join, why? The next morning, Tate and Liam told me she'd said negative things about me.
That she was toxic, had bad energy.
But later that day, I overheard them talking about "shutting that bitch down.
" What did you take that to mean? They were trying to discredit any allegation she might make.
I regret not telling the police that earlier.
Well, thank you for coming forward now, Mr.
Wheeler.
In the past, when you've invited female content providers to the house, they didn't provide anything more than content to you, did they? Not really.
No.
But a lot of them hooked up with Tate and/or Liam, right? I guess.
All the women like you, but not that way.
You're a good guy, you Do everything by the book, and then the women come in, and, they don't even see you.
That must gnaw away at you over time.
- Objection.
- Witness may answer, but move along, Mr.
Swope.
I'm not there to hook up.
I run the house.
It wouldn't be professional to cross those lines.
So you do all the work, and then my clients get all the goodies.
And then you met Willa.
She must have seemed special to you.
Defense exhibit J.
27 direct messages sent by Diggy to Willa.
All of them telling Willa how much you love her content, and how you're looking forward to meeting with her.
These all yours? Yes.
So, when the four of you were in the hot tub, and, Willa was flirting with Tate and Liam, how much of that hurt your feelings? Objection, Your Honor.
Mr.
Swope, move on.
Mr.
Wheeler, you reached out to Willa, after she posted her rape video.
Now was that just an excuse to see her again? No, I legitimately felt bad about what had happened to her.
Bad or angry? Because we have a video where she gets out of a hot tub, you put a towel over her.
I was trying to take care of her.
Oh, you weren't trying to get her into your room? No! She-she shouldn't have gone into anybody's room, she was, drunk, I mean, she wasn't a partier.
But you must have seen other girls go into Tate and Liam's room.
Maybe a little high.
Did you object? - I don't, I don't know.
- Hmm.
You didn't.
See, it's not that you're such a great guy.
You just didn't like any of those other girls the way that you liked Willa.
You're jealous, that she wanted my clients, - and not you.
- She didn't want them.
How do you know that? Is that because - You thought she liked you? - She did like me.
And you guys knew that, but you You had to screw me, show me who's really the boss.
Okay.
Mr.
Wheeler, just answer the question.
You kept saying she was bad news.
Your Honor, I think we need a recess.
I don't need a recess.
I need these guys to know that I know the truth.
You raped her because, you wanted me to know that you were the big dogs.
Mr.
Wheeler.
Oh, you're laughing at me? You guys treat everyone around you like crap, but you're the real pieces of crap.
- Mr.
Wheeler - How many girls have I walked out of the house the next morning in tears? I covered for you.
Every time you screwed up, I fixed it.
And then you repay me by assaulting the one girl I really cared about.
Okay! That's enough.
Jury will disregard.
Mr.
Wheeler, I'm holding you in contempt.
Bailiff, take Mr.
Wheeler into holding.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Approach.
Your Honor, despite these late-in-the-game histrionics, the prosecution has failed to make a case.
No rape kit.
No police report.
At this time, we move for a trial order motion for dismissal.
In other words, you don't have a defense, and there's no chance that he's gonna put his knucklehead clients on the stand.
Okay, enough, both of you.
I will not, declare a mistrial, and I will not dismiss this case.
Mr.
Carisi? The prosecution rests, Your Honor.
Mr.
Swope? The defense rests, Your Honor.
Then this case goes to the jury.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
So the judge held Wheeler in contempt? Yeah, and I don't blame her.
You know, Wheeler made it all about himself, not Willa.
And the bright side is, Carisi feels like Wheeler made his case, 'cause Wheeler also mentioned that there are other girls that Tate and Liam may have assaulted.
Well, we can put it out there.
See if any victims come forward.
But the case has been public for a while.
Yeah.
- How's Carisi doing? - [PHONE BUZZES.]
I'm not sure.
But I'll know in about 20 minutes.
Jury just came back.
Elvis is in the house.
Mr.
Baktashi.
My favorite vigilante.
Thank you for coming in.
It's funny.
When I was protecting my neighborhood, you called me a racist, but now you need my help.
I got one condition.
That nobody can know that you're here.
Not the Albanians.
Not Albi Briscu.
Just the opposite.
When you finally take that scumbag down, I want me and the Dyckman Knights front and center with you at that news conference.
Done.
So you know what happened to Rita Lasku? She's being trafficked, but she's not the only one.
Take out your pen.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
The jury will now read the verdict.
On the charge of unlawful imprisonment, we find the defendants not guilty.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.]
- I love you! - Order.
Order! On the charge of rape in the first degree, we find the defendants, not guilty.
- [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.]
- [GAVEL BANGS.]
Order! Order! [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
I am so sorry.
I-I got into social media, because I wanted people to think that's what my life was like.
And this is my actual life.
Who wants to look at that? What happened? They were acquitted, on all charges.
So I'm the only one sitting in a cell right now? You did the right thing, Diggy.
And honestly, after you went off on Tate and Liam, the jury knew you were telling the truth.
They just didn't care.
I saw the way the women in the jury were looking at them, like they always do.
That one in the front with the red hair, ready to lie down and roll over.
You and me, we never had a chance.
- Carisi.
- Hey, I should have called.
Are the girls are asleep? - Yeah, come on in.
- Sorry, I'm This-this couldn't wait till morning.
You remember the jury forewoman? The redhead.
She seemed giddy about the whole thing.
Yeah, that's exactly what I thought, so I did some digging.
Wait, is that her with Tate and Liam? Yeah, outside the courthouse, right after she and the rest of the jurors found him not guilty.
Yeah it is.
That's not all, look at her last tweet.
"You guys, I'm totally freaking out.
" "The Wheelhouse just DMed me," "and invited me over for a collab.
"All goes well, I could be their newest member"? But after the verdict, they can do whatever they want.
Yeah, maybe.
But not before the verdict.
DMing a jury member, during the trial.
Offering her entry to the Wheelhouse.
I'm looking at jury tampering, bribery.
Your Honor, this is the first that I'm hearing about this.
Yeah, well, I should certainly hope so.
We also have evidence, that the defendants DMed a second juror, Brian Cummings, also during the trial, inviting him to become a member of the Wheelhouse in exchange for a not guilty verdict.
And I quote, "If the jury acquits, the Wheelhouse fits.
" Very clever, gentlemen.
Do you have anything to say for yourselves? - That's just how we recruit.
- Yeah.
Like Willa said, the timing is a coincidence.
Okay, that's enough.
Your Honor, I'll have to verify this.
Well, you do so, Mr.
Swope, because if this turns out to be true, your clients could be looking at double digits.
They'll get over ten years in prison? Their lawyer cut a deal, so they'll get seven and they'll be out in five.
Still, they'll be so old.
I just, wanted an apology.
We're so sorry, Willa, and, we did everything that we could.
I know, at least Diggy apologized.
He invited me to join the Wheelhouse.
- Hold on, Willa, are you sure? - This is different.
He invited me and Kavon.
We're gonna rebrand.
A new collective, kind of like a survivor squad.
It'll be a place for survivors of sexual assault, discrimination, mental health issues.
Wheeler certainly knows how to land on his feet, but, it sounds like a good thing.
He did right, and so did Counselor Carisi.
Would you guys thank him for me? We can do that.
He's a nice guy.
To me, he's one of the good ones.
And for what it's worth, I can see how much he likes you.
So we are looking at sex trafficking.
Does your informant have any idea where Rita is? No, but he did find out that there is a shipment of new prospects coming in from Albania 12 underage girls.
- When does the plane land? - Eight hours from now, at JFK.
I'll let Stabler know.
Make sure he's part of the crew picking up the girls.
We may need your ongoing help with this, Captain.
Always.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]