Former Sex and the City star Chris Noth has broken his silence almost two years after four women accused him of sexual assault.
Noth, who has consistently denied all allegations, spoke with USA Today overnight, admitting in his only interview given since the allegations were reported that he did cheat on his wife of 10 years, but claimed all encounters were consensual.
“I strayed on my wife, and it’s devastating to her and not a very pretty picture,” Noth said in the interview, before claiming, “What it isn’t is a crime.”
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After more than 10 years of dating, The Good Wife alum, 68, married Tara Wilson in 2012.
They stayed together after the accusations against Noth were made public in December 2021, and share two children, a three-year-old and a 15-year-old. Noth said in the interview he has spoken to his oldest child about the situation.
He also said in the interview that in his head, he justified his behaviour like “many men do.”
”You give yourself the same excuses that many men do; it’s just a little side dance, and it’s fun,” Noth said of what he claims were consensual encounters, though acquiesces they were a betrayal of his wife.
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Noth claimed his internal justification sounded like: “You’re not hurting anybody. No one’s going to know about this, you know, and sex is just enjoyable.”
“And suddenly, a lot of people want to have sex with you. It’s like, ‘Well, I’m not going to get this chance again,'” Noth claimed.
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Weeks after Noth’s character Mr. Big was notoriously killed off in spin-off series …And Just Like That in December 2021, two women came forward with claims of sexual misconduct against Noth.
One woman alleged she was raped by Noth in 2015, after he allegedly told her “marriage is a sham” and “monogamy is not real”. She claimed she met Noth while she was working at a night club as a server. Another woman alleged she was raped by Noth in 2004.
Noth, via a representative, denied the allegations, calling them “categorically false”.
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Shortly after the first two allegations emerged, a third woman came forward with claims Noth assaulted her in 2010, while she was working at a restaurant in New York City. Noth, via a representative, called the allegation “a complete fabrication”.
A fourth woman later came forward with allegations of misconduct against Noth. He has strenuously denied all allegations, and no criminal charges have been filed.
In his interview with USA Today, Noth acknowledged that civil lawsuits, however, remain a possibility.
”That’s a money train for a lot of people,” Noth said.
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Since the allegations emerged, Noth’s career has been stagnant. He was fired from The Equalizer, and Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis issued a joint statement commending the women for coming forward.
Noth’s former long-term co-stars said in the statement they ”support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences. We know it must be a very difficult thing to do and we commend them for it.”
“There’s nothing I can say to change anyone’s mind when you have that kind of a tidal wave,” Noth said in the interview.
“It sounds defensive. I’m not. There’s no criminal court. There’s no criminal trial. There’s nothing for me to get on the stand about and get my story out, get witnesses. And there’s even more absurd add-ons that are completely ridiculous, that have absolutely no basis in fact.”
He said he doesn’t like speaking about the situation as he doesn’t want is children to see it splashed around in media – but he also said he’s ”not going to lay down and just say it’s over.”
“It’s a salacious story, but it’s just not a true one. And I can’t just say ‘Well, OK, that’s it for me’ because of that. I’m an actor. I have other things that I want to do creatively. And I have children to support. I can’t just rest on my laurels,” Noth said, noting he has enough to support a year out of the game, and doesn’t know how he could get back in it as “corporations are frightened”.
“People are afraid of all this. Fear is the overriding operative word when it comes to whether they believe it or not. … I have to just continue on,” he continued.
“It’s rough, because people are scared, and their fear leads them. And I have to just persevere because I still have a creative life.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit their website. In an emergency, call 000.
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