Star Trek actor George Takei says he’s baffled by claims he groped a male model in 1981.
Model Scott R. Brunton made the allegations to the Hollywood Reporter and claimed the incident occurred when Brunton was 23 years old and Takei was ’43 or 44.’
Brunton was living in Hollywood and working as a waiter at the time, trying to make it as an actor and model. He claims he met Takei at Greg’s Blue Dot bar and they exchanged phone numbers.
He then claims he went to drinks with Takei, having just broken up with his boyfriend at the time.
Brunton alleges: ‘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.’
Then Brunton recounts his recollection of the events following.
He said: ‘The next thing I remember, I was coming to and he 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.
‘I came to and said, “What are you doing?! I don’t want to do this.” 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, “OK, fine.” And I said I am going to go and he said, “If you feel you must. You’re in no condition to drive.” I said, “I don’t care I want to go.”
‘So I managed to get my pants up and compose myself and I was just shocked. I walked out and went to my car until I felt well enough to drive home, and that was that,’ Brunton claims.
George Takei responds
In response to the allegations, George Takei said he’s ‘shocked and bewildered’ at the claims. He wrote on Twitter: ‘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.’
He continued: ‘[N]on-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.’
Brunton has provided no evidence to support his claim.
George Takei came out against Harvey Weinstein in light of recent allegations levelled at the film producer. In response to the claims, Takei wrote on Facebook: ‘Too little, too late, Mr. Weinstein.’
Read George Takei’s full Twitter thread:
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) 11 November 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) 11 November 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) 11 November 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) 11 November 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) 11 November 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) 11 November 2017