A day after former model and actor Scott R Brunton accused him of sexual assault, actor George Takei has made a statement denying the claims, saying the alleged incident never took place.
Yesterday, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Brunton claimed that he passed out at Takei’s apartment after a date in 1981, and regained consciousness to find the actor groping him.
George Takei took to social media earlier today, and in a series of tweets, he said he was “shocked and bewildered” by the allegations. He told his followers:
Friends, I’m writing to respond to the accusations made by Scott R. [Brunton]. 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.
In a recently-resurfaced interview with Howard Stern, Takei speaks about “grabbing” men in order to “persuade” them into sex, although he has not commented on this.
Streaming service Netflix recently cut ties with actor Kevin Spacey, after numerous allegations of sexual assault and misconduct came to light.
Prosecutors in Massachusetts are reportedly meeting with an accuser who claims that Spacey assaulted him as a teenager in a Nantucket restaurant in 2016.
