In response to the latest allegation of sexual assault, George Takei took to Twitter on Saturday morning to provide a response to the story being told to the media by Scott. R. Brunton about Takei taking advantage of him back in 1981.
The story first broke this past Friday when ‘The Hollywood Reporter‘ released a story from Brunton about his early days in Hollywood, when he was about 23 years old. According to Brunton, he was starting a career in modeling and acting and just happened to meet a 43 or 44 44-year-old George Takei at a bar. They began talking and became friends. The two later reconnected after Brunton broke up with his boyfriend, going out for a dinner and a show with the night ending at Takei’s house. And that’s where things went downhill, at least according to what Brunton told THR:
“We have the drink and he asks if I would like another. And I said sure. So, I have the second one, and then all of a sudden, I begin feeling very disoriented and dizzy, and I thought I was going to pass out. I said, ‘I need to sit down,’ and he said, ‘Sit over here,’ and he had the giant yellow beanbag chair. So I sat down in that and leaned my head back and I must have passed out.”
When he regained consciousness, Brunton claims that Takei:
“…had my pants down around my ankles and he was groping my crotch and trying to get my underwear off and feeling me up at the same time, trying to get his hands down my underwear…He goes, ‘You need to relax. I am just trying to make you comfortable. Get comfortable.’ And I said, ‘No. I don’t want to do this.’ And I pushed him off and he said, ‘Okay, fine.’ …I was just shocked. I walked out and went to my car until I felt well enough to drive home, and that was that.”
The story was corroborated by four of Brunton’s friends, who apparently recall Brunton telling them about the incident when it occurred. After all of that, Takei’s Twitter reaction was somewhat different from the responses we have seen so far from powerful men accused of these things of late, mainly in that Takei flat out denied the claims, stating that he had no memory of the events in question or Brunton, saying that his partner of more than 30 years stands firmly behind him, and anyone who knows him is aware of how against his character these actions would have been (maybe not all that different). You can read his full statement from Twitter below:
Friends,
I’m writing to respond to the accusations made by Scott R. Bruton. I want to assure you all that I am as shocked and bewildered at these claims as you must feel reading them. /1
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
The events he describes back in the 1980s simply did not occur, and I do not know why he has claimed them now. I have wracked my brain to ask if I remember Mr. Brunton, and I cannot say I do. /2
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
But I do take these claims very seriously, and I wanted to provide my response thoughtfully and not out of the moment. /3
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
Right now it is a he said / he said situation, over alleged events nearly 40 years ago. But those that know me understand that non-consensual acts are so antithetical to my values and my practices, the very idea that someone would accuse me of this is quite personally painful. /4
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
Brad, who is 100 percent beside me on this, as my life partner of more than 30 years and now my husband, stands fully by my side. I cannot tell you how vital it has been to have his unwavering support and love in these difficult times. /5
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
Thanks to many of you for all the kind words and trust. It means so much to us.
Yours in gratitude,
George /end
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
It is a dicey situation, as many believe that the word of the accuser should not be doubted without evidence to the contrary, while others feel without evidence to support the allegations, there should not be pre-emptive judgement against Takei. For now, the situation is still evolving, but the accusation is out there, and if Takei wants people to believe he is really not capable of such actions, he is going to have to provide some kind of support of his denial besides claiming he would never do such a thing, as events of late have proven you never know who is capable of such heinous acts, especially if they have a bit of fame and power.
