'Sex and the City' star Chris Noth says sexual assault accusations are 'completely ridiculous' but admits he 'strayed' from his wife: 'What it isn't is a crime'

• Chris Noth addressed sexual assault accusations that were brought against him in 2021.
• The actor told USA Today the only thing he did wrong was cheat on his wife, Tara Wilson.

More than a year after being accused of sexual assault by multiple women, Chris Noth said in a new interview that his only transgression was being unfaithful to his wife of 11 years, Tara Wilson.

"I strayed on my wife, and it's devastating to her and not a very pretty picture," the 68-year-old actor told USA Today. "What it isn't is a crime."

In December 2021, two women told The Hollywood Reporter that Noth sexually assaulted them in incidents a decade apart.

The bombshell report was followed by further allegations of sexual assault made by two more women, one who spoke to The Daily Beast but withheld her name, and singer-songwriter Lisa Gentile, who said he forcibly kissed and groped her in 2002. Actor Zoe Lister-Jones also accused Noth of sexually inappropriate behavior on the set of "Law & Order."

No criminal charges have been filed against Noth.

Noth and Wilson wed in 2012 after more than a decade of dating, meaning that all of the alleged incidents — which took place between 2002 and 2015 — occurred when he was in a relationship. The couple are still married.

USA Today reported that Noth is standing by his initial statement that the encounters he was involved in were consensual.

"You give yourself the same excuses that many men do; it's just a little side dance, and it's fun," he said. "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.'"

The first allegations of misconduct came to light following Noth's reprisal of his "Sex and the City" role in the HBO revival, "And Just Like That…," although he only appeared in two episodes as his character, Mr Big, was killed off in the premiere.

His costars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon issued a statement saying they supported and commended the women for coming forward.

In the wake of the allegations, Noth was dropped by his agency, fired from the CBS drama "The Equalizer," and lost out on a $12 million acquisition deal for his tequila brand Ambhar.

He was also reportedly cut from an additional appearance in the season one finale of "And Just Like That…," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"I'm not going to lay down and just say it's over," Noth said. "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."