It started as chemistry on screen. But what happened off screen nearly tore Chicago P.D. apart.
For years, fans have speculated about the electric tension between Detective Hailey Upton and Sergeant Hank Voight. But what no one expected was that Tracy Spiridakos and Jason Beghe — the actors behind the powerful duo — allegedly engaged in a secret romance during filming, all while trying to keep it hidden from the cast, the producers, and even their real-life partners.
It wasn’t just a casual fling. According to multiple sources who worked on the set during Season 7, the two stars began growing closer during long night shoots. “They’d disappear together for hours during breaks,” said one crew member. “At first we thought it was just intense rehearsal work — but it didn’t take long before everyone started whispering.”
Their connection reportedly escalated during an emotionally charged scene where Upton confronts Voight about crossing the line. That moment of raw intensity was said to mirror real emotions — because, off camera, the two were navigating their own blurred boundaries.
But when rumors began swirling and a suspicious confrontation broke out between Tracy’s then-boyfriend and a visiting guest on set, production reportedly intervened. Executives were concerned not only about the moral implications but the potential damage to the show’s reputation if the affair became public.
“Things got messy,” said another insider. “HR was involved. There were meetings behind closed doors. The producers were terrified the scandal would overshadow the entire season.”
As a result, scripts were allegedly rewritten to limit Upton and Voight’s scenes together in the second half of Season 7. Some fans noticed the shift — the sudden emotional distance, the lack of screen time, the plotlines being diverted. But no one knew why.
Eventually, the affair reportedly fizzled out, but not without consequences. Insiders say Jason Beghe was nearly written out in early drafts of Season 8’s storyline, and Tracy considered leaving the show altogether. It took intense behind-the-scenes negotiation to keep both actors on board.
Neither star has publicly acknowledged the rumors. When asked in a 2023 interview about their on-screen dynamic, Spiridakos smiled cryptically and said, “We connect in ways the audience may never fully understand.”
To this day, the alleged affair remains one of Chicago P.D.’s best-kept secrets. But fans with a sharp eye can’t help but revisit certain scenes — looking for flickers of truth behind the performance.
Was it just acting? Or were we watching something real unfold all along?
Whatever the case, one thing’s certain: in the world of Chicago P.D., the most dangerous crimes… might be the ones committed off-screen.
