Master Of None star Aziz Ansari accused of sexual misconduct by woman he went on date with
COMIC Aziz Ansari responds to sexual misconduct claims made by a woman he went on a date with, saying it seemed ‘completely consensual’.
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ACTOR and comedian Aziz Ansari has responded to claims of sexual misconduct made against him by a woman he went on a date with last year.
The still unnamed woman — who produced text messages between her and the 34-year-old actor — claims she went on a date with Ansari last year and ended up in his Tribeca, New York City apartment.
She said she was speaking up because she resented him wearing a “Time’s Up” pin at the Golden Globe Awards, according to reports in Babe and TMZ.
Ansari, who rose to fame on the sitcom Parks and Recreation, acknowledged the woman’s account of their evening but said he continued to support the #metoo movement, which he described as “necessary and long overdue”.
The woman, who said she was 22 at the time of their encounter, said the incident left her in tears, while the actor argued that it appeared “completely consensual” to him.
Ansari issued a statement to Fox News after the Babe story went live.
“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,” Ansari said. “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.”
The accuser had told Babe she didn’t flee because she initially liked him. She said she then felt disappointment that the sweet-faced comedian was so aggressive.
She claimed that after heading back to his apartment, the Golden Globe winner kissed and fondled her before undressing her and searching for a condom.
She claimed she got cold feet and asked him to slow down. But, she said, he didn’t listen and then forcibly performed oral sex on her.
The woman said he started sticking his fingers in her throat and she used “verbal and non-verbal cues” to indicate her discomfort.
“Most of my discomfort was expressed in me pulling away and mumbling. I know that my hand stopped moving at some points,” she told the US website.
Still, the woman said, she remained in the apartment, and when Ansari urged her to perform oral sex, she did.
“I think I just felt really pressured. It was literally the most unexpected thing I thought would happen at that moment because I told him I was uncomfortable,” said the woman, identified only as “Grace.”
Ansari continued to be amorous, she claims, and brought her over to a large mirror and suggested they have intercourse.
“I just remember looking in the mirror and seeing him behind me. He was very much caught up in the moment, and I obviously very much wasn’t,” she said. “After he bent me over is when I stood up and said, ‘No, I don’t think I’m ready to do this, I really don’t think I’m going to do this.’ And he said, ‘How about we just chill, but this time with our clothes on?’”
While she was getting dressed, he put on an episode of Seinfeld — which the young woman said she had never seen.
While the TV played in the background, he allegedly kissed her again, stuck his fingers down her throat and undid her pants.
“I remember saying, ‘You guys are all the same, you guys are all the f — ing same.’”
She said Ansari met the comment by forcefully kissing her.
That was the point the woman said she finally announced she had enough and asked Ansari to call her a car service, which he did.
She said she left the apartment in tears and texted Ansari the next day.
“Last night might have been fun for you, but it wasn’t for me,” she wrote. “You ignored clear non-verbal cues; you kept going with advances.
“I want to make sure you’re aware so maybe the next girl doesn’t have to cry on the ride home.”
Ansari allegedly responded, “I’m so sad to hear this. Clearly, I misread things in the moment and I’m truly sorry.”
TMZ posted a screenshot of the text messages on its website.
“It was actually painful to watch him win and accept an award,” she said. “And absolutely cringeworthy that he was wearing the Time’s Up pin. I think that started a new fire, and it kind of made it more real.
“I believe that I was taken advantage of by Aziz. I was not listened to and ignored. It was by far the worst experience with a man I’ve ever had.”
This article first appeared in the New York Post and is republished with permission.
Originally published as Master Of None star Aziz Ansari accused of sexual misconduct by woman he went on date with