Chris D’Elia Denies Accusations of Soliciting Sex From Underage Girls Online
“I have never knowingly pursued any underage women at any point,” comedian says
Margeaux Sippell | June 17, 2020 @ 1:43 PM
Last Updated: June 17, 2020 @ 2:05 PM
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Comedian Chris D’Elia has responded to sexual harassment allegations involving multiple underage girls.
“I know I have said and done things that might have offended people during my career, but I have never knowingly pursued any underage women at any point,” he said in a statement. “All of my relationships have been both legal and consensual and I have never met or exchanged any inappropriate photos with the people who have tweeted about me.”
“That being said, I really am truly sorry. I was a dumb guy who ABSOLUTELY let myself get caught up in my lifestyle. That’s MY fault. I own it. I’ve been reflecting on this for some time now and I promise I will continue to do better,” he continued.
The accusations surfaced Tuesday when Twitter user @girlpowertbh shared screenshots of conversations she says took place between she and D’Elia starting when she was 16 years old in 2014. The woman is identified in the screenshots as Simone Rossi.
In a thread, she wrote: “for the longest time i thought it was embarrassing for ME that i was interacting with this older man but he was the one who DM’d me on twitter and was the one who was twice my age and was the one that used the power imbalance between us to his advantage so f*** chris d’elia.”
Others followed with screenshots of what they said were their own conversations with D’Elia, including Twitter user @colleenriley42, who wrote, “Chris D’elia tried to procure me when I was 16. The accusations against him are all true, these emails are from 2014.”
Another user, @clara_schaller, tweeted screenshots of emails she said were from when she says she was 17, in which a person she said was D’Elia asks about a “naked sex date.”
Schaller also tweeted a picture of a statement in which she describes feeling “uncomfortable” and “pressured” to send pictures to a person named D’Elia when she was a senior in high school.
“When I was 17 years old in 2012 my older sister took me to a Chris D’Elia show. We met him that night, I tweeted out my support, and for the next few months, him and I kept in contact. Plenty of emails and text messages back and forth throughout those months. We were connected on social media; I even became Facebook friends with his brother. Chris stall has a comment on a photo of mine from 2012 of my friends on a school bus. I was a senior in high school during this time. My social media was filled with prom photos, sports uniforms and graduation celebrations. The emails I still have between him and I (the texts have been long erased) are incriminating. Rereading them today as a 25 year old woman, I remember how uncomfortable I felt being pressured into sending photos of myself to someone, who at that time, was my idol. I did not know how dangerous and disgusting his actions were at the time. I do now.”
30 of TV's Best Father Figures Who Weren't Actually Dads, From Mr. Belvedere to Joey Gladstone (Photos)
In honor of Father's Day, TheWrap recognizes non-parental TV father figures, from Mr. Feeney on "Boy Meets World" to Mr. Carson on "Downton Abbey" to the eponymous Mr. Belvedere and Chief Hopper on "Stranger Things."
Bentley Gregg (John Forsythe), "Bachelor Father"
One of TV's earliest examples of a father who wasn't a father, Bentley took on the responsibility of raising his niece, Kelly (Noreen Corcoran), after her parents were killed in a car accident.
The Matthews' next-door neighbor was also Cory's (Ben Savage) teacher and eventually his principal, offering sagely advice throughout his young life.
ABC
Mr. Belvedere (Christopher Hewett), "Mr. Belvedere"
In the 1980s sitcom, Mr. Belvedere took on a job as a posh butler with an American family. Throughout the show's run, Mr. Belvedere often served as a mentor to the head of house George Owens (played by Bob Uecker) as well as his three children.
20th Television
Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier), "Full House"
Uncle Joey had his puppets and his nieces, but no kids. Still, he played an essential role in helping raise Danny's (Bob Saget) girls. Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) would have made this list, but he eventually had twins of his own.
ABC
Wilson (Earl Hindman), "Home Improvement"
Wilson always had advice for the Taylor boys, though no one ever saw the mouth that it came out of. He probably had even more words of wisdom for man-child Tim (Tim Allen), who seemed to need a lot of guidance.
Giles may have been Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) Watcher, but the librarian offered advice and wisdom to the entire Scooby Gang, even after they graduated high school.
The WB
Keith Scott (Craig Sheffer), "One Tree Hill"
Poor Keith became a father after his death on the show. But before that, he helped Karen (Moira Kelly) raise his nephew Lucas (Chad Michael Murray), falling in love with her along the way. Later, his spirit (yes, this happened!) guides Lucas and Nathan (James Lafferty) for a season.
The WB
Wilfred (Jason Gann), "Wilfred"
While he may not be real, Wilfred is real enough in Ryan's (Elijah Wood) world, and serves as both mentor and guide as Ryan struggles through life. Granted, he's a terrible mentor and gets Ryan in trouble more often than not, but it seems to be all about making Ryan a better person. Maybe.
When he wasn't being a curmudgeon, Will actually cared about his team and the newsroom he worked with, and would go to any lengths to protect them in a hostile environment. Maybe that's why he was so cranky.
HBO
Mr. Dink (Fred Newman), "Doug"
Doug's (Billy West/Tom McHugh) older, eccentric neighbor was as quick with a bizarre high-tech gadget as he was with words of wisdom for the young man. Unfortunately, sometimes both proved to be of little use.
Nickelodeon
Captain Ray Holt (Andrew Braugher), "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
The Captain has no biological kids, but the immature cops that work for him are childish enough to need constant nurturing, and stoic, tough love.
FOX
Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins), "Saved by the Bell"
The Big Bopper was more than just a principal to Zach Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and friends at Bayside High. He usually had a moral lesson up his sleeve -- it was often doled out in detention.
After marrying Gemma (Katey Sagal), Clay became a stepfather of sorts to Jax (Charlie Hunnam), but that didn't stop the two from trying to kill one another on a regular basis. Clay also took on a fatherly role to other members of the club, until his greed went too far, and his "children" turned on him.
FX
Artie (Toby Huss), "The Adventures of Pete and Pete"
The self-proclaimed "Strongest Man in the World" was Little Pete's (Danny Tamberelli) personal superhero, and one of the few adults that held any sort of positive influence over the rambunctious kid.
While Walter White (Bryan Cranston) was busy cooking meth and killing (other) bad guys, it was Hank who stepped in and took care of Walter Jr. (RJ Mitte) and his little sis. The surrogate father couldn't save himself, however, once he figured out Walter's secrets.
No one ever said they needed to be GOOD father figures to qualify for this list. Nevertheless, Nucky took Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) under his wing early on in the series' run, though that didn't turn out too well for Jimmy.
Saul doesn't need kids of his own, as Carrie (Claire Danes) is more than enough to keep him busy. Aware of her bipolar disorder, Saul has done everything in his power to nurture and protect her from outside forces, and herself.
Showtime
Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), "Star Trek: The Next Generation"
Starfleet is his mistress, so it makes sense that the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise were his children. Captain Picard spent as much time helping Data (Brent Spiner) understand humanity, and providing guidance to every other member of the crew, as he did exploring space.
Leroy had a daughter at one time, but he lost her at a young age to tragedy. Perhaps that's why he has taken on such a fatherly role with his team of NCIS agents, helping them with their problems, while keeping his own a deep, dark mystery.
CBS
Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), on "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Coulson hand selected his own team, and he filled it with broken people in need of support, direction and guidance. It's no wonder he's stepped up as a father figure to so many of them, and especially the orphaned Skye (Chloe Bennet).
ABC
Blake Shelton, "The Voice"
While not a father in real life, Blake is clearly ready. Why else would he keep being drawn to young contestants, and asking them if he can adopt them? His fatherly guidance has already launched "The Voice" winners Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery onto the country charts.
ABC
Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), "Stranger Things Season 2"
While Hopper took on Eleven as his own daughter, Nancy's boyfriend Steve found himself responsible for all of her friends: Dustin, Lucas, Mike, and Sadie. The Internet christened the newly beloved babysitter as Dad Steve and got particularly emotional about his unlikely bond with the nerdy Dustin (played by Gaten Matazzaro), to whom he gave hair advice and girl advice throughout the season. Executive producer Steve Levy has promised that there will be more Dad Steve in the upcoming third season.
Netflix
Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver), "Supernatural"
While their father wasn't always around, the Winchester boys learned they could always count on Bobby to help them out of a jam, or teach them the right and wrong way to exorcise a demon. Even after his death, Bobby managed to find ways to take care of his "idjits."
When he wasn't clashing with Jack, Locke was helping some of the castaways grow up -- and stay alive. He bonded especially with Walt (Malcolm David Kelley) in the early going, helping the boy work through the grief of losing his mother, and grow closer to his biological father, Michael (Harold Perrineau).
Mr. Carson is a father figure for both the upstairs and downstairs of the upstairs/downstairs drama. He looks after the staff and the Grantham girls. While gruff and proper, Mr. Carson has shown a greater empathy than expected at times, proving he can be progressive, too, albeit reluctantly.
PBS
Artie Nielsen (Saul Rubinek), "Warehouse 13"
While he was always a bit of a father figure to the agents under his charge, it was the arrival of the troubled Claudia (Allison Scagliotti) that really brought out his softer, and yet dangerously protective side.
Syfy
Mr. Mansfield (John C. McGinley), "Ground Floor"
The consummate business man, Mansfield surprised even himself when he took such an interest in Brody (Skylar Astin). While grooming him for success in business, Mansfield became emotionally invested in Brody's burgeoning relationship with Jenny (Briga Heelan), offering sage advice, buried inside cutting sarcasm.
TBS
Joe West (Jesse L. Martin), "The Flash"
When Barry Allen's (Grant Gustin) mother was murdered and his father wrongfully convicted of her murder, he was taken in by family friend, police detective Joe West. Joe proved a devoted foster father, even inspiring young Barry to become a forensic scientist. And after the accident that gave Barry his powers, Joe was his first friend to learn about the secret, and serves as one of The Flash's staunchest allies. And now that Barry is married to Joe's daughter, Iris, he's a great father-in-law in addition to being a great foster dad.
The CW
Lee Chang (Ju Ji-Hoon), "Kingdom"
The crown prince of Korea is forced out of the palace amid a pandemic that turns people into flesh-eating zombies. He shows paternal compassion towards all his subjects as he rallies them against the growing threat.
Netflix
Michael Scott (Steve Carell), "The Office"
He may not be the best manager, but Scott serves as the unofficial dad of Dundler-Mifflin, and upon himself to be Jan's child's dad although there is no blood relation.
NBC
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In honor of Father’s Day, TheWrap honors de facto daddies on the small screen
In honor of Father's Day, TheWrap recognizes non-parental TV father figures, from Mr. Feeney on "Boy Meets World" to Mr. Carson on "Downton Abbey" to the eponymous Mr. Belvedere and Chief Hopper on "Stranger Things."
CBS
