Boardwalk Empire and Dawson’s Creek actor Michael Pitt is facing serious legal trouble.
The 44-year-old actor was arrested and arraigned at Kings Supreme Criminal Court in Brooklyn on May 2 in connection to alleged incidents dating back to 2020, according to Variety.
Court documents show Pitt has been charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, assault with injury involving a blunt object, and second-degree strangulation. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
After his arraignment, Pitt posted bail and was released. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 17, per TMZ.
Details surrounding the case paint a disturbing picture. According to the New York Post, the charges stem from four separate alleged incidents involving an ex-girlfriend between April 2020 and August 2021. The outlet reports Pitt allegedly sexually assaulted the woman and attacked her with various objects, including a chunk of wood and a cement block, while they were living together in Bushwick. The alleged strangulation occurred in August 2021.
Pitt’s attorney, Jason Goldman, responded strongly to the allegations, defending his client in a statement given to Variety.
“Unfortunately, we live in a world where somebody like Mr. Pitt — an accomplished professional who would never so much as contemplate these crimes — can be arrested on the uncorroborated word of an unhinged individual,” Goldman said. “In reality, this baseless claim is suspiciously raised some four or five years after the alleged incident, at a time when the two parties were in a completely consensual and voluntary relationship. This case will be dismissed.”
This isn’t the first time Pitt has made headlines for run-ins with the law. In July 2022, he was arrested and charged with assault and petty larceny after allegedly striking a man several times and stealing his phone. Just a few months later, in September, he was hospitalized after being accused of throwing objects at people from a rooftop.
Once known for his moody, indie appeal and critically acclaimed roles in films like Last Days and The Dreamers, Pitt’s off-screen troubles have increasingly overshadowed his acting work in recent years.
So far, there has been no official comment from Pitt himself or his representatives beyond the attorney’s statement. The details of the case continue to develop, and all eyes will likely be on the courtroom when Pitt returns for his next scheduled appearance in June.
As it stands, the legal process is just beginning, and Pitt maintains his innocence.
