Comedian Joo Yung Roberts speaks out about his alleged sexual encounter with Tom Ballard

AUSTRALIAN comedian Joo Yung Roberts has spoken out about his alleged sexual encounter with ABC TV presenter Tom Ballard.

AUSTRALIAN comedian Joo Yung Roberts has spoken out about his alleged sexual encounter with ABC TV presenter Tom Ballard.

Mr Roberts, 24, claims the popular comedian made an unwanted sexual advance towards him four years ago following a comedy gig in Adelaide, a claim which Ballard has strongly denied.

But police declined to take any action when Mr Roberts went to lodge a complaint in the days after the incident, telling him Ballard had not “gone outside the confines of the law”.

comedian Joo Yung Roberts said he didn’t come forward earlier because he feared for his career. Picture: Supplied

Mr Roberts said he’s battled suicidal thoughts and substance abuse issues since the incident, which allegedly occurred in Ballard’s hotel room in June 2014.

“It was a traumatising experience for many reasons, one of those being I’m a heterosexual male,” the Adelaide man said.

“It’s a risk speaking out. It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done. For the sake of my career I did not want to speak up about it.”

The advent of the recent Me Too movement against sexual harassment and assault encouraged Mr Roberts to come forward and he hopes to inspire others to do the same.

Ballard, a comedian and host of satirical news show Tonightly, said he only became aware of the “deeply distressing” claim about six months ago and decided to speak out after Mr Roberts wrote about the alleged incident on social media on Saturday.

In an online statement, Ballard described the claim as “an allegation that I completely deny in the strongest terms possible”.

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Tom Ballard. Spiegeltent Hobart 2017. Picture: SUPPLIED

“Four years ago I had a consensual sexual experience with someone,” he wrote.

“I had absolutely no idea he believed it wasn’t consensual until six months ago.

“His version of that experience as described on social media is simply not what happened. It fundamentally goes against who I am as a person and everything I believe in.”

Mr Roberts said he was “disappointed” with Ballard’s response, describing it as “hypocritical”.

Mr Roberts said he met Ballard at an Adelaide comedy show in 2014.

The former Triple J radio presenter was hosting an open mic night and Mr Roberts was one of the stand-up performers.

The pair got talking at the bar after the show and Mr Roberts said Ballard invited him back to his hotel room to “hang out” and learn from the experienced comedian.

“I thought he would give me some tips and share some advice (about comedy),” he said.

Tom Ballard is the host of the ABC show Tonightly. Picture: ABC

Mr Roberts alleges that once inside the hotel room Ballard kissed him and grabbed his genitalia.

He said he was too “scared” to say no. “He was one of the more famous comedians in the country … In the moment I didn’t want to cause offence to this guy,” he said.

When Ballard went to the bathroom, Mr Roberts put his clothes back on and eventually left the room.