Chris Noth and Sarah Jessica Parker built one of ‘Sex and the City’s most unforgettable on-screen relationships, but their real-life connection didn’t carry on the same way once the series moved into history.
Fans have noticed for years that the two didn’t appear close after the franchise’s peak, and the distance only became harder to ignore as the SATC universe kept expanding. Now, Noth is addressing that reality himself, and his explanation adds a new layer to the long-running speculation.
Chris Noth Confirms His Friendship With Sarah Jessica Parker Is Over
Chris Noth opens up about the rift in an upcoming appearance on Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson, and PEOPLE shared an exclusive clip ahead of the full episode, which premieres Monday, Jan. 26, on YouTube. The actor, 71, speaks directly about his relationship status with Parker, 60, after rumors of a feud circulated for years.
Related: Sarah Jessica Parker Tried To Ditch ‘Sex And The City’ Before The Pilot Aired As TV “Depressed” Her
“We’re not friends, I think that’s pretty obvious,” Noth says, making it clear that they no longer speak. He connects the breakdown to how Parker responded publicly after multiple sexual assault allegations against him surfaced in 2021.
In 2021, there were rape allegations against him from two women. One woman claimed she met Noth in 2004, when she was 22, and another claimed she met him in 2015, when she was 25. A third woman later told that Noth sexually assaulted her in 2010 when she was 18. Noth denied all accounts at the time. He stated that he “has and would never cross that line,” and he called the stories “a complete fabrication” that “read like a piece of bad fiction.”
Noth Calls Parker’s Public Statement About His Actions “Disappointing”
Shortly after the allegations became public, Parker released a statement alongside Sex and the City castmates Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis. The trio said, “We are deeply saddened to hear the allegations against Chris Noth. We 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.”
Noth says that the statement hurt him deeply and changed everything between them. He believes the message felt more like “brand management” than a personal response. And he says Parker should have contacted him directly before taking a public position.
In case you missed it: Why Did Mr. Big Die In ‘And Just Like That’?
“The statement that they put out, which was nothing more than brand management, really. It was sad, it was disappointing, it was surprising,” Noth says. He adds that Parker had known him for many years and expected her to call and hear his side first.
“I get it, that’s more Hollywood than Hollywood,” he continues, acknowledging how the industry reacts when scandal hits. He still says the lack of a phone call made the situation worse, because he wanted the chance to share “the real scoop” before any statement went out. He says it never happened and calls that “too bad.”
Earlier this month, speculation about tension between the former co-stars flared up again after Noth posted a gym photo on Instagram with the caption, “F new years – LETS GO!!!!” As it turns out, Parker had been honored just three days earlier with the Golden Globes’ Carol Burnett Award during the CBS and Paramount primetime special Golden Eve. In the comments, one fan wrote, “You mean f sjp & her award right? lol.” Noth replied, “rRght,” appearing to agree.
The fallout also affected his involvement in the franchise’s revival. After the allegations and the cast’s statement in 2021, Noth was cut from And Just Like That…. The series killed off his character, Mr. Big, in the premiere episode, and producers originally planned to bring him back in the season 1 finale, but those scenes never aired.
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