Toxic truth behind Kim Cattrall & Sarah Jessica Parker's Sex and the City feud
They might have appeared the very best of friends for six years on Sex And The City, but off screen Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker's relationship couldn't have been more different.
Their feud has been brought back into the limelight this week as it was revealed Kim would make a one-scene appearance in spin-off show And Just Like That... after previously ruling out having anything to do with her former co-stars ever again.
Her brief cameo managed to achieve just that as Variety revealed Kim managed to film her return without seeing or speaking to any of the stars of the series.
A simmering tension between the leading ladies has been well documented over the years, but following the tragic death of Kim's beloved brother Chris in 2018 a long-running feud blew up publicly in spectacular style.
As SJP reached out to offer support to her former co-star's grieving family, Kim did not hold back when she blasted the gesture as 'a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now."
Major And Just Like That teaser shows Carrie snogging her ex after Big's death
So where did it all go wrong?
There is no love lost between Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker (Getty Images North America)Tensions between the two leading actresses were said to have been bubbling under from the very beginning of their working relationship.
As sex-crazed PR Samantha, Kim earned a reputation as a 'natural comedienne and scene stealer' - which according to show insiders, did not sit well with her three co-stars, particularly the leading lady herself.
Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, who played Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York, are said to have formed an alliance with Sarah Jessica, 'deliberately excluding' Kim from their clique, who in turn allegedly became increasingly isolated on set.
There were even rumours the trio refused to speak to Kim outside of what was written on their scripts, even on 15 hour filming days.
SJP, Cynthia and Kristin are said to have formed a close bond on their own (Hulton Archive)Sources on set said the three would even eat their lunch away from Kim.
For a time Kim had an ally in series creator and producer Darren Star but after his departure at the end of the second season, his replacement Michael Patrick King made it clear he was a friend to SJP.
But the feud between the girls widened with even make-up artists refusing to speaking to Kim', according to Page Six.
Then during a shoot in Atlantic City there were reports Sarah Jessica, Cynthia and Kristin all stayed at a house together, while Kim was left to find her own accommodation.
Kim lashed out at SJP following the death of her brother in 2018 (AFP)As the award-winning HBO rocketed success, lead actress SJP was reported to be earning three times as much as her co-stars, pocketing an alleged $1 million an episode compared to their rumoured $350,000 - which did not sit well with Kim.
Sam Smith teases And Just Like That role as they're 'up to something unholy'
Sarah Jessica was also granted a promotion to executive editor giving her more of a hold over her co-stars.
A source told the Mail : 'From the point when SJP had her executive producer credit, she took ownership of the show and this always grated on Kim.
"She felt SJP got more screen time than she did, which was only fair because Sarah Jessica was the lead, but it caused tension."
Kim was also said to be annoyed SJP was allowed to keep her bra on during the show's sex scenes, while she had to bare all.
The foursome on set of Sex and the City: The Movie (WireImage)Despite the history between them, four years after the show ended Kim agreed to take part in the Sex and the City film.
Sarah Jessica admitted in an interview with Elle magazine that filming with her old co-stars hadn't been easy.
"You're on set, you're working 90-hour weeks, you're never home, you're exhausted," she said. "Sometimes feelings get hurt. But I don't have any regrets about how I've treated people."
Show insiders said Kim would eat lunch alone and was ostracised from her co-stars (Getty Images)Appearing on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2017, Kim touched on the feud, as she tactfully admitted Sarah "could have been nicer."
"We've never been friends. We've been colleagues and it's a very healthy place to be.
"I don't see them. The common ground we had was the series and the series is over," kim said.
She added: "Sarah Jessica, she could have been nicer, she could have in some way. I don't know what her issue is, I never have."
After hearing the news, Willie Garson, who played Carrie's best pal Stanford Blatch on the show, rushed to stick up for Sarah.
"Dear fans, because I'm 'toxic', I'm gong to negotiate a contract for 6 months, not come to terms, then say I never wanted to do it anyway," fired Willie, referencing Kim's reluctance to star in another SATC movie.
Following reports the pair haven't spoken in years, Sarah reached out to offer her condolences after hearing the news Kim's brother Chris had died after being reported missing this month.
Sarah Jessica joined a host of famous faces sending their support to Kim.
She replied to a social media, saying: "Dearest Kim, my love and condolences to you and yours and Godspeed to your beloved brother. Xx."
The gesture did not sit well with her co-star, who lashed out by saying "I don't need your love or support at this tragic time" and even tagging Sarah in the post for the world to see.
Kim Cattrall lashes out at Sarah Jessica Parker on Instagram (kimcattrall/Instagram)In the accompanying caption, Kim did not hold back as she fired: "'My Mom asked me today ‘When will that @sarahjessicaparker, that hypocrite, leave you alone?'
"Your continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now."
"Let me make this VERY clear. (If I haven't already) You are not my family. You are not my friend. So I'm writing to tell you one last time to stop exploiting our tragedy in order to restore your 'nice girl' persona."
Kim didn't want support from her ex co-starAfter the blow up, it came as no surprise to fans of the series that Kim refused to take part in revival series And Just Like That....
She told the Guardian: "The tragedies in my life continue to shape me. Now I don’t want to be in a situation for even an hour where I’m not enjoying myself. I want to choose who I spend time with personally and professionally. It’s my life. I lost my dad seven years ago, to Alzheimer’s, and Mum has just turned 90. I’ve become aware there’s only so much time left.
"I went past the finish line playing Samantha Jones because I loved Sex and the City. It was a blessing in so many ways but after the second movie I’d had enough. I couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t just replace me with another actress instead of wasting time bullying. No means no."
When the spin off show was launched to much fan-fare in 2021, Kim made another dig as she liked a fan tweet praising her decision not to be a part of it and commending her for 'putting herself first.'
The fan post read: "I absolutely love Sex and the City and whilst I am saddened that Samantha will not return, I applaud doing what is best for you and think this is [a] great example of putting yourself first. Well done @KimCattrall."
Reports have swirled that the leading stars reportedly earned $1million an episode for the HBO series, but Kim still said no to the hefty pay cheque.
As rumours between the co-stars circulate once again, Mr Big actor Chris Noth spoke out to defend SJP ahead of As Just Like That's launch.
Speaking to The Guardian, Chris said of Kim: 'I have to tell you, I have absolutely no idea what her thinking is, or her emotions.
"I do know that I’m very close with SJ and [Cattrall’s] descriptions of her don’t even come close. I liked her, I thought she was marvellous in the show and some people move on for their own reasons. I don’t know what hers were.
"I just wish that whole thing had never happened because it was sad and uncomfortable. I just don’t like to see anyone talking down about SJ because she’s a target and people can be nasty."
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