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Mike Smith, the actor famous for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys, has been charged with sexual assault.
According to court documents filed in Nova Scotia provincial court, Smith was charged on Oct. 2 in Halifax in relation to an alleged assault that occurred on Dec. 30, 2017 in Dartmouth, N.S.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Smith has been ordered not to communicate with the alleged victim — whose name is protected by a publication ban — or visit their school, workplace or home.
According to a statement from Trailer Park Boys Inc., Smith has “stepped away” from his role as managing director of the company.
“We are aware of the allegation concerning Mike Smith dating back to 2017 and take such matters seriously,” the statement says. “We recognize how difficult an allegation of this nature is for all involved. Out of respect for the legal process, we will not comment further on the case.”
CBC News has reached out to Smith’s management and lawyer for comment but is still awaiting a reply.
Over more than two decades of TV series, films and spinoffs, Smith and the two other main characters, played by Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay, have become one of Nova Scotia’s most recognizable global exports.
Since premiering in 2001, the series has developed a rabid fanbase, airing worldwide on platforms that include Netflix and Crave, and the Trailer Park Boys own streaming service.
In 2013, the three actors purchased the rights to the Trailer Park Boys franchise.
Earlier this year, Trailer Park Boys Inc. announced that shooting for Season 13 of the TV show, the first since 2018, had wrapped, with the show expected to air in 2026.
Despite the charges, the company said in its statement that it remains “focused on delivering the long-awaited 13th season for our fans.”
In 2016, Smith was arrested in Los Angeles and charged with misdemeanour domestic battery after an alleged incident at a hotel in Hollywood.
In the aftermath, Smith and the alleged victim released a joint statement denying the allegations, explaining that they were friends who had an argument.
The charges were later dropped due to what the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office called a “lack of sufficient evidence.”
Smith is due to appear in court in Halifax on Monday.
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