Aziz Ansari’s former co-star Retta “didn’t appreciate” the sexual misconduct accusations made against the actor and says she “didn’t think he was an a–hole.”
“I’m not going to judge [Grace], because I don’t know her,” Retta told Vulture. “I know personally–I had this conversation specifically with one of my good girlfriends, and she was like, ‘I don’t know how this is a story. I didn’t get it.’ I don’t want to get into it. I didn’t like it. Because I’m the first person to be like, ‘F— that mother f—er. He’s an a–hole. He’s a f—ing a–hole.’ And I didn’t think he was an a–hole and I didn’t appreciate it.”
In January, an anonymous woman who was referred to as “Grace” gave an account to Babe.net of a date in which she said the “Master of None” star repeatedly pressured her for oral sex and intercourse, and at several points, ignored her “clear non-verbal cues.” She said she also told him at one point: “I don’t want to feel forced because then I’ll hate you, and I’d rather not hate you.”
Ansari said in a statement that during the date, they took part in sexual activity that to him was 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,” his statement continued. “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.”
Retta added that she’s been “on that date so many times.”
“I feel like a lot of people and a lot of other outlets were like, ‘Why did you even run this story?’ ” she said. “I’m giving my personal opinion, and I don’t want f—ing people coming at me. You know what I mean? But I feel like I’ve been on that date so many times. I was like, ‘If you haven’t been on that date twice, are you even living a life?’”