Unveiling the Intriguing Connections Between Carrie and Big in 'And Just Like That' Season 2 Premiere After Chris Noth's Departure

During the season 2 premiere on Thursday, June 22, viewers of And Just Like That finally got the answer they were waiting for. Although it was already known that Chris Noth wouldn't be returning, the question remained whether Mr. Big would at least be mentioned in the new episodes. Their curiosity was satisfied when Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) subtly acknowledged her failed first wedding with Big. When her plans for the Met Gala went awry, Carrie delved into her own closet and decided to repurpose the grand Vivienne Westwood gown she had worn for the ceremony that never took place due to Big's abandonment at the altar in the 2008 Sex and the City movie.

After revealing her box of memories, she took out the infamous bird fascinator she had only worn once. The camera then shifted to a scene where Carrie left her building, dressed in the gown and adorned with a turquoise cape. In a voiceover, she remarked, "And just like that, I transformed my suffering into something new."

Aside from that particular scene, Mr. Big's demise remained unaddressed. Devoted AJLT fans will recall that the character passed away during the first season's premiere. Upon returning home, Carrie discovered her husband, whose true name was John James Preston, had suffered a fatal heart attack in her absence. In a poignant voiceover, she uttered the words, "And just like that... Big died."

Multiple women have come forward with accusations of sexual assault against Noth, 68, following the airing of the episode. In an article published by The Hollywood Reporter, one woman, who goes by the pseudonym Zoe, claimed that Noth raped her from behind in 2004. Zoe stated that she had met him while working at a high-profile firm with celebrity clients, and that Noth would frequently flirt with her at the Los Angeles office. She alleged that Noth later invited her to his West Hollywood apartment, where the assault took place. Another woman, Lily, said she encountered Noth in 2015 when she was 25 and working as a server at a nightclub in New York City. After a night of drinking, Noth allegedly invited her to his NYC apartment and sexually assaulted her.

Noth, on the other hand, refuted the allegations when they first emerged. In a statement to We, he stated, "The accusations made against me by individuals I encountered years, or even decades, ago are completely untrue. These stories could have originated from 30 years ago or just 30 days ago - regardless, 'no' always means 'no,' and I never crossed that line. The encounters were consensual. It's hard not to question why these stories are coming out now. Although I can't say for certain, I can confidently state that I did not assault these women."

Following the emergence of the allegations, it was reported that producers of And Just Like That had removed a cameo appearance filmed by Noth for the season 1 finale. This cameo would have depicted Mr. Big in Paris with Bradshaw. Noth and Parker, who is 58 years old, had been photographed earlier in 2021 filming the scene on location.

In December 2021, Parker, alongside her AJLT co-stars Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, issued a statement expressing their sadness regarding the allegations against Chris Noth. They showed support for the women who came forward to share their painful experiences, acknowledging the difficulty of doing so and commending them for their bravery.

During the season 2 premiere, although Noth was absent, two other actors who are not part of the show were briefly acknowledged. Kim Cattrall, who declined to participate in a third SATC movie and thus did not reprise her role as Samantha Jones, was mentioned in a conversation between Carrie and Kristin. Additionally, Carrie paid tribute to Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson), who had moved to Tokyo in season one following his separation from Anthony (Mario Cantone). Unfortunately, Garson passed away from pancreatic cancer in September 2021 while season 1 was still in production, at the age of 57.

New episodes of And Just Like That stream via Max on Thursdays.

If you or someone you know have been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).