Queen Latifah is speaking out for the first time about sexual assault allegations against Chris Noth, her former “The Equalizer” co-star. Noth was fired from the CBS drama Latifah after claims of misconduct surfaced in December.
“It’s still surreal. It’s such an uncertain and sensitive situation that requires a lot of respect,” Latifah told People in an interview published Monday. “That’s something personal that he’s going to have to deal with.”
In “The Equalizer,” Noth played an old friend of Latifah’s character, who runs a private security company after years as director of the CIA. He will be seen in the first episode of season 2, which airs on Sunday, because the episode had already been filmed.
Beyond that, Latifah told the outlet that the show is still “figuring out what we want to do creatively” and how they’re going to cancel the role of Noth.
“Chris’s character is obviously a big part of the show and it was amazing chemistry, amazing chemistry,” Latifah said. “And my feeling is that justice has to prevail no matter what. I just want the right things done, you know?”
Chris Noth’s accusations:Three women accuse ‘Sex and the City’ star of sexual assault
In a Hollywood Reporter story published Dec. 16, two women going by pseudonyms, Lily and Zoe, accused Noth, 67, of sexual assault in separate incidents in the early 2000s. In the days after the publication of the report, three more women came forward with similar accusations. The women’s complaints include groping, inappropriate comments and rape.
Noth, best known for his role as Mr. Big on HBO’s “Sex and The City” and the remake of the beloved show “And Just Like That…”, has denied sexual assault allegations.
“The accusations against me made by people I knew years, even decades ago, are categorically false,” Noth said in a statement to USA TODAY last month. “These stories could have been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago, it doesn’t always mean no, that’s a line I didn’t cross. The encounters were consensual. It’s hard not to question the timing of these stories. I don’t know with I’m not sure why they’re coming to the surface now, but I do know this: I didn’t assault these women.
The stars of ‘And Just Like That’ respond: SJP, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis break silence on Chris Noth allegations
Following the allegations, Noth’s new talent agency, A3 Artists Agency, which he signed with in October, dropped him as a client, and Entertainment Arts Research said it would no longer buy Noth’s tequila brand, Ambhar Tequila, which was previously listed. under contract to be purchased. for $12 million. Peloton also removed a recent ad starring Noth from its social media platforms, saying the company was “unaware of these allegations” when they filmed the commercial, which was a quick response to his character’s death in “And Just Like That…”
Reboot stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis responded to the allegations against Noth hours after he was fired from “The Equalizer,” writing in a joint declaration They posted on their social media accounts on December 20 that they are “deeply saddened” by the allegations.
“We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences,” they continued. “We know that it must be something very difficult for them and we congratulate them for it.
sexual violence:Chris Noth, Sarah Jessica Parker and the demand that women answer when men are accused of abuse
www.usatoday.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism