
Aziz Ansari responds to sexual misconduct allegation
By: Meaghan Wray
Aziz Ansari is the latest addition to an extensive string of sexual violence and misconduct allegations against men in the entertainment industry. On Saturday (Jan. 13), a 23-year-old New York based photographer – who spoke under the pseudonym Grace – released a recount of her first and only date with the comedian to the online publication Babe, as told by writer Katie Way .
In the wake of his Golden Globe win, Aziz responded to the accusations on Sunday (Jan. 14), 31 hours after Babe’s first report of the incident.
“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. – Aziz Ansari”
The photographer says that she first met Aziz, 34, at the 2017 Emmy Awards after-party. The two hit it off, exchanged numbers and met for a date on September 25. The two moved the date to Aziz’s townhome in the city, where Grace said she was “physically giving off cues that I wasn’t interested. I don’t think that was noticed at all, or if it was, it was ignored.”
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
Grace ended up in an Uber called by Aziz riding home in tears. The two exchanged texts the following day, with Aziz expressing that he had “fun meeting [her] last night” and Grace explaining, at length, that the encounter was “uncomfortable” and that he “ignored clear non-verbal cues”.
The Master of None creator and actor has discussed sexual misconduct and women’s rights, both on his show and in his book Modern Romance. Much of his stand-up comedy, too, discusses the harassment women deal with every day.