DeCoutere quits show over Smith’s abuse arrest
Trailer Park Boys’ move to back co-star of Canadian series prompts actor to leave her role
Trailer Park Boys actor Lucy DeCoutere resigned from the Canadian television series Saturday, hours after the show released a statement in support of fellow actor Mike Smith, who has been charged with domestic battery in Hollywood.
“If I find out that somebody is abusive, I cut them out of my life. It’s very easy,” DeCoutere wrote on Twitter.
Smith, known for his role as the odd but lovable Bubbles, has denied any wrongdoing after his Friday arrest. The alleged victim, identified by the show as Georgia Ling, said she did not feel in danger and “there was no real issue.”
Their joint statement came with words of support attributed to the show’s actors and crew: “The other members of the Trailer Park Boys and all staff stand behind Mike and look forward to the matter being resolved favourably,” the statement said.
DeCoutere confirmed that her resignation was connected with Smith’s arrest. Reached at home, she said the decision was influenced by her recent experience as a complainant in the high-profile sexual assault case against former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, which ended in his acquittal, and that she was quitting as a matter of principle.
“I am not leaving the show lightly," DeCoutere told the Star. I love so many people who work on the show. . . . I just couldn’t continue to work on this show based on these allegations and how it was handled.”
The10th season of Trailer Park Boys debuted on Netflix last week and it is about to go into production on its next season.
DeCoutere said on Twitter that she had spoken with both Smith and Ling.
Smith was arrested early Friday morning in Hollywood and charged with misdemeanour domestic battery, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. U.S. celebrity website TMZ reported that the incident began at the city’s historic Roosevelt Hotel when Smith allegedly pinned a female friend up against a bathroom wall in the midst of an argument. Citing hotel guests who claimed to have witnessed the altercation, TMZ also said bystanders at the scene described the two shouting over whom Smith had been texting.
In the Trailer Park Boys statement released Saturday, both Smith and Ling gave accounts of what happened.
“Mike and I did indeed have a heavy argument but it saddens me the way things are being reported and the way it was handled by the police,” Ling wrote.
“At no point did I feel I was in danger, otherwise I would’ve called the police myself, which I did not. The police were called by others not present in the room who mistakenly perceived the argument to be something other than what it was. When the officers arrived I tried to assure them there was no real issue, but they proceeded to arrest Mike.”
Smith wrote: “Georgia is a friend of mine and we had a loud and heated dispute. That is all. At no time did I assault her. I am not guilty of the misdemeanour charged against me.”
Trailer Park Boys publicist Sheila Roberts refused an interview request Saturday evening, but said in an email that DeCoutere told the show’s producers a few weeks ago she would not be returning for the next season. She also said the statement in support of Smith reflected the views of the show’s main actors, John Paul Tremblay and Robb Wells, who play main characters Julian and Ricky.
The Trailer Park Boys is a mockumentary television series that follows the misadventures of a group of foul-mouthed trailer park residents. Main characters Julian (Tremblay), Ricky (Wells) and Bubbles (Smith) are a perpetually drunk and high trio of friends who are forever trying to get their lives in order through dubious quickmoney schemes.
DeCoutere has played the character Lucy — Ricky’s girlfriend and mother of his child — for 15 years. DeCoutere is also a captain in the Royal Canadian Air Force in New Brunswick, where she works as a training officer.
“I have learned a lot over the past 18 months regarding how intimate partner abuse happens,” DeCoutere said of her experience as a witness in the Ghomeshi sexual assault case. “The trial has impacted every part of my life.”
Smith was released from a Hollywood police station a few hours after his arrest on $20,000 (U.S.) bail.
He is scheduled to appear at a downtown Los Angeles court on April 29. With files from Vjosa Isai and Michael Robinson