Aziz Ansari has been accused of sexual misconduct by a former date.
The allegations were made by an unnamed woman described as a 23-year-old photographer, and were originally reported by Babe.
The woman met the Master of None star at an Emmys party last September, and after texting for about a week, the pair went on a date in New York City.
Following dinner at a restaurant, Ansari and his date went back to his apartment, where the woman claims he exhibited "aggressive" sexual behaviour. She said that he repeatedly stuck his fingers in her mouth and then tried to put them in her vagina, repeatedly tried to make her touch his penis, and pressured her into performing oral sex on him.
The woman said that she felt uncomfortable and tried to convey that to Ansari.
"I know I was physically giving off cues that I wasn't interested," she told Babe. "I don't think that was noticed at all, or if it was, it was ignored."
At one point during the evening, she went to the bathroom for approximately five minutes to "collect herself" and when she returned, Ansari asked her if she was okay. She said, "I said I don't want to feel forced because then I'll hate you, and I'd rather not hate you."
She claimed he responded by saying, "Oh, of course, it's only fun if we're both having fun," and suggested that they "chill" on the couch. She said he then "sat back and pointed to his penis and motioned for me to go down on him." She said she did so because she "just felt really pressured."
The woman alleges that Ansari then proposed intercourse, but she said no. She said he suggested that they "chill" on the couch again "but this time with our clothes on," but he allegedly continued to kiss her and put his fingers in her throat. When he tried to undo her pants, she said, "You guys are all the same, you guys are all the fucking same."
Ansari allegedly responded with "gross, forceful kisses," at which point she waited for a car and then went back to her own house.
Babe also shared screenshots of a text message conversation between the woman and Ansari from the next day, in which she tells him how "uneasy" his behaviour made her feel.
Ansari responded, saying, "Clearly, I misread things in the moment and I'm truly sorry."
After the allegations went public over the weekend, Ansari released a statement. It reads:
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.
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 allegations were made by an unnamed woman described as a 23-year-old photographer, and were originally reported by Babe.
The woman met the Master of None star at an Emmys party last September, and after texting for about a week, the pair went on a date in New York City.
Following dinner at a restaurant, Ansari and his date went back to his apartment, where the woman claims he exhibited "aggressive" sexual behaviour. She said that he repeatedly stuck his fingers in her mouth and then tried to put them in her vagina, repeatedly tried to make her touch his penis, and pressured her into performing oral sex on him.
The woman said that she felt uncomfortable and tried to convey that to Ansari.
"I know I was physically giving off cues that I wasn't interested," she told Babe. "I don't think that was noticed at all, or if it was, it was ignored."
At one point during the evening, she went to the bathroom for approximately five minutes to "collect herself" and when she returned, Ansari asked her if she was okay. She said, "I said I don't want to feel forced because then I'll hate you, and I'd rather not hate you."
She claimed he responded by saying, "Oh, of course, it's only fun if we're both having fun," and suggested that they "chill" on the couch. She said he then "sat back and pointed to his penis and motioned for me to go down on him." She said she did so because she "just felt really pressured."
The woman alleges that Ansari then proposed intercourse, but she said no. She said he suggested that they "chill" on the couch again "but this time with our clothes on," but he allegedly continued to kiss her and put his fingers in her throat. When he tried to undo her pants, she said, "You guys are all the same, you guys are all the fucking same."
Ansari allegedly responded with "gross, forceful kisses," at which point she waited for a car and then went back to her own house.
Babe also shared screenshots of a text message conversation between the woman and Ansari from the next day, in which she tells him how "uneasy" his behaviour made her feel.
Ansari responded, saying, "Clearly, I misread things in the moment and I'm truly sorry."
This is the text Grace* sent Aziz Ansari after their date which left her feeling "violated". She tells Ansari how uncomfortable he made her feel, saying "you ignored clear non-verbal cues" and "kept going with advances."
— babe (@babedotnet) January 14, 2018
Read the full story on https://t.co/FyMMG6uO1j. pic.twitter.com/lPOvW6tFTr
After the allegations went public over the weekend, Ansari released a statement. It reads:
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.
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.
