Actor Aziz Ansari Responds To Sexual Misconduct Allegation

Following a woman’s claim of sexual misconduct on the hands of Aziz Ansari, the award-winning actor has responded to the accusation.

The woman, identified as a 23-year-old Brooklyn-based photographer, said she met the actor at the 2017 Emmy Awards, where she gave him her number at his request. After a week of texting, he asked her out on a date that ended with her feeling “violated”, which she told him the following day.

Ansari said in a statement Sunday that he “took her words to heart” at the time and reached out to her privately “after taking the time to process what she had said.” He added that he continues to support the #MeToo and Times Up movement.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, his full statement reads:

In September of last year, I met a woman at a party. We exchanged numbers. We texted back and forth and eventually went on a date. We went out to dinner, and afterwards we ended up engaging in sexual activity, which by all indications was completely consensual. 

The next day, I got a text from her saying that although “it may have seemed okay,” upon further reflection, she felt uncomfortable. It was true that everything did seem okay to me, so when I heard that it was not the case for her, I was surprised and concerned. I took her words to heart and responded privately after taking the time to process what she had said. 

I continue to support the movement that is happening in our culture. It is necessary and long overdue.

This news follows a report published in Babe that a 23-year-old girl, who decided to remain anonymous named “Grace”,  was reportedly “in tears” after her alleged date with Ansari. The actor exchanged phone numbers with her during an Emmy Awards after party. She claims their date ended with her feeling violated. “Grace” says he almost immediately began kissing, fondling and undressing her. Then she said Ansari was going to grab a condom but asked him to slow down. However, he continued and performed oral sex on her. Grace says when he started sticking his fingers in her throat she used “verbal and non-verbal cues” to show her discomfort with the situation.

The woman claims Ansari doesn’t know if he got the message, but when it eventually clicked she said he said, “Of course, it’s only fun if we’re both having fun.”

“Grace” says Ansari continued to push himself on her.  She says she eventually left in tears. She texted Ansari the following day, “Last night might have been fun for you it wasn’t for me.  When we got back to your place, you ignored clear, non-verbal cues; you kept going with advances.  You had to have noticed I was uncomfortable.”  She then described part of the experience.

The woman says she decided to come forward after she saw Ansari wear a Times Up pin at the Golden Globes, where he won Best Actor.

Related:

• Five Women Accuse James Franco of Sexual Misconduct
• Jenna Fischer Reveals: “My First Acting Job Was in a Sexual Education Video”
• 8 Former Child Actors Accuse Hollywood Producer, Gary Goddard of Sexual Misconduct,

What do you think? Discuss this story with fellow Project Casting fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @projectcasting.