Chris Noth, the actor best known as Carrie Bradshaw’s love interest Mr Big on Sex and the City, has been accused of sexual assault by two women who spoke to the Hollywood Reporter.
The women, who do not know each other and contacted the publication separately as press swirled around the recent spinoff series And Just Like That, both describe similar alleged rapes by the 67-year-old actor more than a decade apart.
In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, Noth called the allegations “categorically false” and denied assaulting the women. “These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago – no always means no – that is a line I did not cross,” he said. “The encounters were consensual. It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.”
The women, identified by the pseudonyms Zoe and Lily, both say they met Noth in their early 20s. Zoe, who still works in the entertainment industry, said she met Noth through an entry-level entertainment job in 2004, when she was 22 and he was 49. She alleges that after several flirtatious encounters at work, he invited her to hang out at a pool in the complex where he had an apartment.
Zoe, now 40, says the actor lured her into the apartment with the suggestion that he wanted to discuss a book, kissed her, then began having sex with her from behind, in front of a mirror. “It was very painful and I yelled out, ‘Stop!’” she said. “And he didn’t. I said, ‘Can you at least get a condom?’ and he laughed at me.”
Zoe said she and a friend went to Cedars-Sinai medical center for stitches after the assault, where she refused to tell police Noth’s name out of fear she would not be believed and repercussions in the workplace. The Hollywood Reporter was unable to confirm this visit as Cedars-Sinai does not keep records dating back to 2004.
The woman identified as Lily, now 31, says she met Noth in 2015, when she was 25 and he was 60, at the VIP section of the now closed New York nightclub No.8, where she worked as a server. The woman, who now works in journalism, said Noth asked her to dinner, which she accepted as a fan of the HBO show. Under the impression that he wanted to taste whiskey and discuss career plans with her, Lily says she accompanied Noth to his Greenwich Village apartment, then alleges Noth kissed her, thrust his penis in her mouth, and started having sex with her in front of a mirror, to her distress. “I was kind of crying as it happened,” she said.
The magazine reviewed texts between Lily and Noth between March and April 2015, in which Noth said: “By the way I have to ask did you enjoy our night last week. I thought it was a lot of fun but I wasn’t quite sure how you felt.” Lily replied: “Hmm … I certainly enjoyed your company. Great conversation. Not to go into specifics over text message, but I did feel slightly used … Perhaps this is better as a phone conversation but I can’t talk at the moment.” Lily and Noth exchanged more texts about meeting for drinks, which she eventually canceled; they never met again.
Both women told the Hollywood Reporter they felt compelled to speak publicly now as press for And Just Like That triggered old memories. “Seeing that he was reprising his role in Sex and the City set off something in me,” Zoe said. “For so many years, I buried it,” but decided now it was time “to try to go public with who he is”.
The 2004 allegations are now under investigation by the Los Angeles police department (LAPD), sources told Deadline on Thursday afternoon. “We are still looking into the nature of the report and trying to narrow down where, when and if where the report was filed,” Sgt Bruce Borihanh of the LAPD told the outlet. Noth’s lawyers said their client had yet to hear from police.
In the wake of the report, the at-home fitness company Peloton removed ads featuring the actor from its social media channels, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The rapidly produced viral video mocked the stationary bike-related death of Noth’s character, Mr Big, in the recently released And Just Like That.
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 802 9999. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
