George Takei accused of sexual assault.
- Thread starter Turtletrekker
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It would be horrible if true, and I would be truly disappointed. However, I'll reserve judgement until more information comes out.
This won't stop me from watching and enjoying Sulu, because Sulu as a character is bigger than George Takei. Sulu didn't do those things, even if George did.
This won't stop me from watching and enjoying Sulu, because Sulu as a character is bigger than George Takei. Sulu didn't do those things, even if George did.
Mirror Sulu would do it
I don't share George Takei's political views and don't usually come to his defense, but these are unsubstantiated allegations with, as far a I know, no proof. After such a long time it will be all but impossible to prove. I have no desire to bash accusers, but unless you an prove it, it didn't happen. Unfortunately for Mr. Takei this will most likely tarnish his reputation.
There is one other painful problem... the resilience of memory.
Memory does change over time. There has been scientific research on this matter and empirical testing proved it. Essentially, anytime you recall a past event, it becomes colorized through your mind of the moment. You know our perspective changes over time, so you're now recalling a memory with a different mind than the one you had back when the memory was created. What this means is that perception of an event can change. Usually it is subtle, but sometimes it can become a sweeping change.
40 years is a very, very long time. Who knows if Scott initially went along with Takei's advances while being unsure about it, then momentarily passed out due to so much drinking, to awaken and change his mind about the tryst? He admitted he had a lot to drink. It could be starting with a flawed recollection, only to then blossom into much more over time when he periodically recalls it.
I don't know -- it just seems so out of character for Takei.
In any case, based on what was described, it doesn't seem to me like it was a "scarred for life" event. From what Scott described, the encounter didn't go very far, objectively speaking. It's not like Takei fought off Scott's resistance and continued taking off his clothes, and that's from Scott's recounting. I've dated enough women to learn from them about how men can be with sexual encounters... and I've had several confess to me that they've had times when men have tried to impose themselves physically and they've had to resist to the point of fearing it might become a rape event. Thankfully none did. But are they now going to start posting with #MeToo about every unwanted physical advance? I don't think so.
Memory does change over time. There has been scientific research on this matter and empirical testing proved it. Essentially, anytime you recall a past event, it becomes colorized through your mind of the moment. You know our perspective changes over time, so you're now recalling a memory with a different mind than the one you had back when the memory was created. What this means is that perception of an event can change. Usually it is subtle, but sometimes it can become a sweeping change.
40 years is a very, very long time. Who knows if Scott initially went along with Takei's advances while being unsure about it, then momentarily passed out due to so much drinking, to awaken and change his mind about the tryst? He admitted he had a lot to drink. It could be starting with a flawed recollection, only to then blossom into much more over time when he periodically recalls it.
I don't know -- it just seems so out of character for Takei.
In any case, based on what was described, it doesn't seem to me like it was a "scarred for life" event. From what Scott described, the encounter didn't go very far, objectively speaking. It's not like Takei fought off Scott's resistance and continued taking off his clothes, and that's from Scott's recounting. I've dated enough women to learn from them about how men can be with sexual encounters... and I've had several confess to me that they've had times when men have tried to impose themselves physically and they've had to resist to the point of fearing it might become a rape event. Thankfully none did. But are they now going to start posting with #MeToo about every unwanted physical advance? I don't think so.
There has been a lot of this over the last few years here in the UK and most of those accused were notoriously guilty! But I just don't see George being guilty myself after reading his response to the guys accusation! Trek fan or not as it were!
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This is absolutely plausible... Agree.
Apparently, a few weeks ago, Takei was asked (on the Howard Stern radio show) about whether he had ever committed sexual assault: NSFW language audio.
What he describes seems (to me) to be consistent with Mr. Brunton's account.
What he describes seems (to me) to be consistent with Mr. Brunton's account.
Only one? Berman, Hurley and Roddenberry have all been the subject of allegations of at least harassment.
Can't see this being true. Much more likely to be the gay mafia trying to smear Takei over his objection to gay Sulu in Star Trek Beyond. Remember, revenge is a dish best served cold.
"Gay mafia"? That's still a thing? 
"Gay mafia"? That's still a thing?
I see you're not denying its existence.
I believe he is a good man. But anyone is capable of anything.
Do I think one instance from 1981 should ruin a person's entire reputation? No....unless more of these instances come to light, and we reach a critical mass that goes beyond the point of plausible deniability. But it does damage his credibility. I think his career as "pop culture guru" and uncrowned King of Facebook is over now. The Internet's judgment will be swift after that Howard Stern clip.
Do I think one instance from 1981 should ruin a person's entire reputation? No....unless more of these instances come to light, and we reach a critical mass that goes beyond the point of plausible deniability. But it does damage his credibility. I think his career as "pop culture guru" and uncrowned King of Facebook is over now. The Internet's judgment will be swift after that Howard Stern clip.
Out of all the celebrity sexual assault scandals, this one is fishy as hell. Like, really fishy.
In all other cases, there were at least a few people accusing the celebrity, with circumstancial witnesses/at least some verifiable connections, and other people witnessing some weird behaviour. Here we have exactly one guy accusing Takei, who also adds "I am sure he'll disown all this, I don't know, maybe not."
The accuser, Brunton, basically accuses Takei of using roofies on him, and then starting sexual activities on him. IF you're the guy that uses roofies on people, I highly doubt that never has anyone else EVER complained about at least some inappropriete behaviour of yours before. You just don't one single day roofie-rape someone and then never ever do anything even remotely close like that again.
Not to judge anyone, but this sounds a lot more like a sexual encounter gone awry. I absolutely do believe that Takei could have been more direct in his "flirting" than what Brunton felt comfortable with at the time - especially being homosexual at that time was everything else than generally accepted.
But I absolutely do not believe Takei to roofie strangers and lure them to his home to sexually assault them. At least not as long as we don't hear any further evidence for it - be it other victims, or at least some people confirming that Takei and Brunto at least really met in real life at the time.
In all other cases, there were at least a few people accusing the celebrity, with circumstancial witnesses/at least some verifiable connections, and other people witnessing some weird behaviour. Here we have exactly one guy accusing Takei, who also adds "I am sure he'll disown all this, I don't know, maybe not."
The accuser, Brunton, basically accuses Takei of using roofies on him, and then starting sexual activities on him. IF you're the guy that uses roofies on people, I highly doubt that never has anyone else EVER complained about at least some inappropriete behaviour of yours before. You just don't one single day roofie-rape someone and then never ever do anything even remotely close like that again.
Not to judge anyone, but this sounds a lot more like a sexual encounter gone awry. I absolutely do believe that Takei could have been more direct in his "flirting" than what Brunton felt comfortable with at the time - especially being homosexual at that time was everything else than generally accepted.
But I absolutely do not believe Takei to roofie strangers and lure them to his home to sexually assault them. At least not as long as we don't hear any further evidence for it - be it other victims, or at least some people confirming that Takei and Brunto at least really met in real life at the time.
Yeah, no. This is clearly not a confession, this is Takei walking into a trap. The other Interviewer asked him if he ever grabbed people by their cocks as a way of flirting. Which he says he did. And while he's answering, Howard Stern, out of nowhere, adds the "against their will", and Takei clearly didn't noticed the presumption of alleged sexual assault, but talks about awkward sexual encounters at his home with guys he picked up who were shyer than him. Which absolutely sounds like the sex-positive Takei we all know. Especially since he goes on to make a point about power-situations and consent, and how it is not okay to take advantages out of any such situations.
There's gonna be a lot more of this before there's not.
It's been going on in Hollyweird for decades, maybe a century, and the "studio system" covered up as much as it could. That doesn't exist anymore, and it's inevitable that when someone speaks up others will chime in.
Hopefully this will help to eliminate the "movie stars as role model" thing that has been the standard in American society. These are people who live their lives in a make-believe world, and maybe now the rest of us will take them for what they are.
Pretenders.
That said, there are good and decent people who work in Hollywood. As this all shakes out we'll start to see who they are, and who needs to be run out of town on a rail.
It's been going on in Hollyweird for decades, maybe a century, and the "studio system" covered up as much as it could. That doesn't exist anymore, and it's inevitable that when someone speaks up others will chime in.
Hopefully this will help to eliminate the "movie stars as role model" thing that has been the standard in American society. These are people who live their lives in a make-believe world, and maybe now the rest of us will take them for what they are.
Pretenders.
That said, there are good and decent people who work in Hollywood. As this all shakes out we'll start to see who they are, and who needs to be run out of town on a rail.
Ummmm...no
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