Actor Jeremy Piven defended his decision to pull out of Broadway play Speed-The-Plow as he returned to the red carpet less than a month after mercury poisoning forced him to quit the production.

Piven came under fire for pulling out of the play on December 16th, just seven weeks after making his New York stage debut. But he insists the mercury poisoning he suffered - reportedly caused by sushi - was very real, and he was distraught when doctor's urged him to walk away from the show.

Speaking at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night, the Entourage star explains, "It was a completely humbling experience. It was like being taken out of a game. I could have gone against doctor's orders, but I didn't. I'm just grateful to be here."

However his plight didn't win him any sympathy from pal and Entourage producer Mark Wahlberg, who strolled the red carpet with him, and joked, "I'm just wondering if this mercury poisoning isn't contagious."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)