Chris Noth speaks out for the first time on sexual assault allegations, says cheating ‘is not a crime’

Chris Noth is finally addressing the sexual assault allegations that torpedoed his career.

The actor — known for “Law & Order,” “Sex and the City” and “The Equalizer” — has given his first interview since accusations against him were made public in 2021. While copping to committing adultery again, he denied the allegations made by a total of four women who came forward with stories.

“I strayed on my wife, and it’s devastating to her and not a very pretty picture,” he told USA Today in an interview published Tuesday. “What it isn’t is a crime.”

“You give yourself the same excuses that many men do; it’s just a little side dance, and it’s fun,” Noth rationalized. “You’re not hurting anybody. No one’s going to know about this ... 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.’”

However, Noth maintains his only transgression was cheating on his wife.

“There’s nothing I can say to change anyone’s mind when you have that kind of a tidal wave,” he said. “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.”

Noth went on to say that he has laid low since the allegations but is ready to get back to work.

“I’m not going to lay down and just say [my career is] over,” he explained. “It’s a salacious story, but it’s just not a true one. ... I have to just persevere because I still have a creative life.”

The first two accusers, who reportedly did not know each other at the time, approached The Hollywood Reporter anonymously about incidents that allegedly occurred in 2004 in Los Angeles and 2015 in New York City.

The 68-year-old actor initially referred to the allegations as “categorically false,” telling The Hollywood Reporter that “no always means no,” and “that is a line I do not cross. The encounters were consensual.”

Immediately following the accusations, Noth was dropped from his talent agency, cut from the first season finale of “And Just Like That...” and was axed from “The Equalizer.”

Peloton also pulled Noth from its 2021 ad campaign, and he lost a $12 million deal for his tequila brand, Ambhar.

Noth has been married to Tara Wilson, 41, since 2012. The couple shares two sons, Orion, 15, and Keats, 3.