George Takei responds to assault accuser's changing story

George Takei tweeted on Friday about the sexual misconduct allegations against him, which a recent Observer piece dissected and found to be unreliable.

Takei thanked his husband and fans for standing by him after accusations of inappropriate behavior from Scott Brunton, whose story altered slightly with each retelling. He referred to it as sexual assault, as groping, and finally said he would dismiss the thing as a misunderstanding.

"Despite what he has put us through, I do not bear Mr. Brunton any ill will, and I wish him peace," Takei wrote.

Brunton's story was first reported in November of 2017 and referred to as sexual assault – his own words – by the Hollywood Reporter. The model had become friends with Takei and they were drinking together late at night when Brunton claimed he felt strange and thought Takei might have drugged him (toxicologists consulted by the Observer ruled this out).

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He then said he woke up to Takei allegedly removing his pants and firmly told the older actor no. Takei proceeded no further, though he did suggest that the inebriated Brunton not drive (he did).

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A legal expert told the Observer that legally, there is nothing to prosecute in this story. Brunton himself said he would be content to write it off as a misunderstanding if Takei apologized – a far cry from the original allegations of sexual assault, which are not to be taken lightly.

What should you get for something like Brunton says Takei did? For making too bold a move on a date who, it turned out, just wanted to be friends? What kind of sacrifice should be asked for when an accuser feels hurt but says it all could be a misunderstanding?

One could point to the murky case of Aziz Ansari, whose condemnation in January garnered assessments ranging from sexual assault to a bad date. More occurred between the two parties involved in the Ansari story, but like the many strands of the #MeToo movement, they stem from a need for fundamental societal reeducation.

As Takei said, "this was part of a very important national conversation that we as a society must have, painful as it might be."

And now it can likely continue with Takei fighting alongside.