George Takei has apologized for a resurfaced Howard Stern interview that looked a lot more creepy after former model Scott Brunton accused the former “Star Trek” star of sexual assault.
Takei took to Facebook Monday night, saying he was doing something of a performance during his Stern visit, that he tended to play the part of the “naughty gay grandpa” whenever he appeared on the radio show. It’s “a caricature I now regret,” he said in the post.
“But I want to be clear: I have never forced myself upon someone during a date,” Takei’s post continued. “Sometimes my dates were the initiators, and sometimes I was. It was always by mutual consent. I see now that that it has come across poorly in the awkward sketch, and I apologize for playing along with Howard’s insinuation.”
“Non-consensual acts are anathema to me and my personal code of conduct, and I would never do something against anyone’s will, period,” he said.
https://www.facebook.com/georgehtakei/posts/2272346556128118
The Stern interview resurfaced over the weekend, but isn’t in fact that old — it was recorded not long after the Harvey Weinstein scandal first broke back in October.
Takei and Stern discussed sexual harassment, including the accusations surrounding President Donald Trump. Stern then shifted the subject to Takei, asking, “Did you ever grab anyone by the co– against their will?” to which Takei remained silent.
“Some people are kind of… umm… skittish,” Takei responded after some awkward laughter. “Oh maybe… um… afraid and you’re trying to persuade.”
“Do we need to call the police?!?” Stern exclaimed. “What are you saying, George? You’ve never held a job over someone if they didn’t touch your co–?”
Takei said he did not do this, and when asked by Stern’s co-host, Robin Quivers, if this happened at work, Takei said it happened at home.
“So what do you mean?” Stern asked. “You mean some guy who was hesitating to have sex with you and then you gave him a gentle squeeze on the balls or something?”
“More than a gentle…” Takei laughed. “But it didn’t involve power over the other.”
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Brunlon said he met Takei in 1981 and went to his apartment with him. He said that after a couple drinks, he awoke to find Takei groping his groin through his underwear.
Initially, Takei said on Twitter he was “shocked and bewildered” by the claims and denied them.