In a series called Mondo Appropriato, Culled Culture examines how “on the nose” something is in the pop cultural and/or political landscape.
“Am I the only one that remembers what a prick he was to her?” Susan Sharon (Molly Price) notes with vexation in her voice at Mr. Big’s funeral in the second episode of And Just Like That…, somewhat crassly titled “Little Black Dress.” It was something we were all thinking, and possibly the only honest moment that will appear in the series amid a sea of faux woke bullshit. It also happens to coincide perfectly–along with his death–for Chris Noth’s #MeToo’ing. The two women, referred to as “Zoe” and “Lily,” that have come forward to speak about what happened to them actually couldn’t have been more generous with their timing for And Just Like That… to keep carrying on with Big out of the picture. Not that it wasn’t already hard enough to stomach watching this cringe-a-minute reboot in the first place. But now, it isn’t just the reboot that suffers from the blight, but also the original show itself, which had already launched a thousand-plus think pieces on why everything about it is retroactively offensive.
Already part of that arsenal of offense was Mr. Big, arguably the most grotesque male character in TV history. Therefore, it was only right for Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) to liken him to Donald Trump in the very first episode (“You see that guy? He’s the next Donald Trump except he’s younger and much better looking”–gross). Almost as if she knew…
What Cattrall herself also knew was that getting involved with this project again at all would be a classic mistake, and she couldn’t have turned out to be more correct with this added new layer to And Just Like That…’s depths of shame. Even though, “unspokenly,” this was supposed to be Sex and the City’s chance to redeem itself for all those missed opportunities for wokeness, especially being that it was set in the presumed “melting pot” of the world, it seems And Just Like That…’s most memorable legacy is condemned to be tied forever to Noth, and the character of Big (not to mention Peloton).
Over the years, we were meant to take note of his “arc.” His shift from total asshole to just a medium-grade asshole. But through it all, he continued to sport the kind of knowing, impish grin that can now only scream, “Yeah, I just violated someone and got away with it.” It’s one of those things you look at and wonder, “How did I not see it? It was so obvious.” Especially since the persona Noth was playing bore the patent mark of someone predatory. Particularly because he saw himself as the type of guy who never had to “ask for it.” It should simply be given to him because he was rich and “handsome.”
The often innuendo-laden dialogue Big would spew certainly can’t help Sex and the City’s cause now, already being rebranded as Sexual Assault and the City. Phrases like, “We always used to share a cigarette together” and Carrie replying, “We did a lot of things that were bad for me together” will become rife with new meaning. Or Big telling her as he eye-fucks her in the back of his car, “Don’t worry, I’m perfectly capable of restraining myself.” Along with Carrie saying in the first episode of season two, “Never stop thinking about him even for a moment, because that’s the moment he’ll appear.” That’s likely how the two women that finally came forward felt, convinced they could keep it all under the rug until Noth himself bubbled to the surface again with a vengeance via this media blitzkrieg for And Just Like That… complete with the Peloton ad. Noth, who has, quelle surprise, vehemently–nay, “categorically”–denied any improper conduct is likely to later remark to these women, just as Big did to Carrie, “I had no idea that you hurt so much.” Because men don’t want to know what women are feeling. They wish to simply get what they “need” from them and move on to something (or someone) else. And when alcohol is involved, they naturally assume a woman is up for “whatever” after a certain point.
Joining the two anonymous women that have made accusations is also Zoe Lister-Jones, who stated Noth was inappropriate with her multiple times both at the club he owns (The Cutting Room) and on the set of Law & Order: SVU. As for “Zoe” and “Lily,” per People, “One woman claimed she was raped by Noth at his apartment when she was twenty-two. The second woman featured in the THR report claimed Noth had ‘violated’ her, alleging he thrust his penis into her mouth and had sex with her at his NYC apartment.”
Noth was quick to degrade and deflect by casting doubt on what he called their “stories.” As though they were girlish little fables imagined by a poor, misguided ninny. He thus responded, “These stories could’ve been from thirty years ago or thirty days ago–no always means no–that is a line I did not cross. It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.” Just like he didn’t assault his 90s-era girlfriend, Beverly Johnson, right? As for the “timing,” as he calls it (as though to insinuate some kind of gain on their part), in case Noth needs to be reminded of what the word “trigger” means, “They said they came forward now due to Noth again featuring prominently in the media following the much-hyped release of the reboot.” In other words, having to see his goddamn name and mug everywhere was too much to take any longer without saying something. And were they right to do so? Abso-fuckin-lutely.
