George Takei Responds to Sexual Assault Allegations Made By Former Model

George Takei Responds to Sexual Assault Allegations Made By Former ModelGeorge Takei Responds to Sexual Assault Allegations Made By Former Model
George Takei has responded to the sexual assault allegations that surfaced on Friday with an emphatic denial on social media Saturday morning. 
The esteemed actor and LGBT advocate took to Twitter to address the accusation that he sexually abused former model and actor Scott R. Brunton in his home back in 1981. In a series of tweets, Takei says he is “shocked and bewildered” at the accusation, noting the incident “simply did not occur.”
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Here is the compiled version of his message that he posted via a series of tweets:
“Friends,
I’m writing to respond to the accusations made by Scott R. Bruton. I want to assure you all that I am as shocked and bewildered at these claims as you must feel reading them.
The events he describes back in the 1980s simply did not occur, and I do not know why he has claimed them now. I have wracked my brain to ask if I remember Mr. Brunton, and I cannot say I do.
But I do take these claims very seriously, and I wanted to provide my response thoughtfully and not out of the moment.
Right now it is a “he said / he said” situation, over alleged events nearly 40 years ago. But those that know me understand that non-consensual acts are so antithetical to my values and my practices, the very idea that someone would accuse me of this is quite personally painful.
Brad, who is 100 percent beside me on this, as my life partner of more than 30 years and now my husband, stands fully by my side. I cannot tell you how vital it has been to have his unwavering support and love in these difficult times.
Thanks to many of you for all the kind words and trust. It means so much to us.
Yours in gratitude,
George”
Brunton had earlier recounted Takei’s alleged unwanted advance in 1981 via an interview with The Hollywood Reporter:
“The next thing I remember I was coming to and he had my pants down around my ankles and he was groping my crotch and trying to get my underwear off and feeling me up at the same time, trying to get his hands down my underwear. I came to and said, ‘What are you doing?!’ I said, ‘I don’t want to do this.’ He goes, ‘You need to relax. I am just trying to make you comfortable. Get comfortable.’ And I said, ‘No. I don’t want to do this.’ And I pushed him off and he said, ‘OK, fine.’ And I said I am going to go and he said, ‘If you feel you must. You’re in no condition to drive.’ I said, ‘I don’t care I want to go.’ So I managed to get my pants up and compose myself and I was just shocked. I walked out and went to my car until I felt well enough to drive home, and that was that.”
Takei, who was in Asia when the news first broke, was not able to immediately issue a response on Friday night.
Feature image via Wikimedia Commons/ Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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