Actor Michael Pitt, who you might recognize from shows like “Boardwalk Empire” and “Dawson’s Creek,” has been accused of some pretty serious stuff. Like, we’re talking about sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend, choking her, and even attacking her with a cinder block and a piece of lumber at his place in Brooklyn. A grand jury indictment lays out nine counts against Pitt, including first-degree sexual abuse, assault, and strangulation. The incidents supposedly went down between April 2020 and August 2021 at his Bushwick home.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office didn’t have much to say beyond what’s in the indictment. Pitt’s lawyer, Jason Goldman, is standing by his client and insists that the accusations are bogus. He’s got evidence that he believes will clear Pitt’s name, and he’s pretty confident that the case will get tossed out. According to Goldman, Pitt is a stand-up guy who would never even think about doing the things he’s being accused of. He even pointed out that these claims are coming out of nowhere, like four or five years after the fact, when everything was supposedly all good between them.
Pitt entered a not guilty plea and put up $100,000 for bail. He’s expected back in court on June 17. The indictment details some pretty horrific stuff, like Pitt allegedly making unwanted sexual advances in April 2020 and forcing oral sex on the woman later that year. In June 2021, he supposedly went after her with a cinder block not once, but twice, and then choked her a couple of months later. It’s a lot to take in, for sure.
In other news, TMZ reported in 2022 that Pitt got into some trouble for allegedly punching a guy and snatching his phone in Brooklyn. And a few months after that, he had a bit of a meltdown in public that landed him in the hospital with a police escort. Yikes.
Before all this drama, Pitt had a pretty successful acting career. He played Jimmy Darmody on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and even scored some awards for his work. The show won Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2011 and 2012, as well as a Golden Globe in 2011. Plus, he starred in movies like “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “Last Days,” where he played a rock star inspired by Kurt Cobain. Oh, and let’s not forget his stint on “Dawson’s Creek” back in the day.
So yeah, Pitt’s had his fair share of ups and downs. It’s hard to say what’s really going on behind the scenes, but it’s definitely a messy situation. Will he be able to clear his name, or is this the end of the road for his career? Only time will tell.
