Remember Scott Brunton? He’s the guy who accused actor George Takei of sexual assault after drugging him back in 1981.
Well, in a new interview out in the Observer, Brunton is backtracking in a big way and he’s not even sure it happened:
George Takei’s accuser has backtracked & gave this racist description: “He was 20 years older than me & short. And I wasn’t attracted to Asian men…I was a hot, surfer, California boy type, that he probably could have only gotten had he bought, paid.” https://t.co/4Ec4vV4s6I
— Nancy Wang Yuen (@nancywyuen) May 25, 2018
The opener:
A fabricated coffee meeting. Key facts withheld or walked back. A “great party story” about a sexual assault—which the accuser now says may not have actually happened.
What happens when an activist’s legacy is tarnished by the story of an old friend who later says it could have all been a misunderstanding? And how do we process such an anomaly in an era of overdue social justice?
The author of the piece also notes that no other accusations surfaced against Takei:
From the article: “My publisher and I waited for the inevitable flood of #MeToo accusations against Takei, as they had with other accused sexual predators. But none came.”
— Nancy Wang Yuen (@nancywyuen) May 25, 2018
Brunton has some explaining to do:
From the article: “What I discovered after months of investigation—and after speaking at length with Brunton, people close to Takei, medical toxicologists and legal experts in sex offenses—suggests that this story needs to be recast significantly.”
— Nancy Wang Yuen (@nancywyuen) May 25, 2018
No drugging:
“Both toxicologists immediately ruled out a spiked drink.”No groping/assault:
“Brunton confessed that he did not remember any touching.”“The episode itself was ‘not painful,’ Brunton said, chuckling. ‘It didn’t scar me.’
— Nancy Wang Yuen (@nancywyuen) May 25, 2018
Takei, however, does not “bear Mr. Brunton any ill will” and wishes him “peace”:
As many of you know, this has been a very difficult period for myself and my husband Brad as we have dealt with the impact of these accusations, but we are happy to see that this nightmare is finally drawing to a close. https://t.co/nHCjnebCBO
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 25, 2018
As I stated before, I do not remember Mr. Brunton or any of the events he described from forty years ago, but I do understand that this was part of a very important national conversation that we as a society must have, painful as it might be.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 25, 2018
It is in that spirit that I want folks to know, despite what he has put us through, I do not bear Mr. Brunton any ill will, and I wish him peace.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 25, 2018
Brad and I are especially grateful for the many fans who stood by me throughout this ordeal. Your support kept us going, and we are so immensely thankful for you.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 25, 2018
That’s nice of Takei to give Brunton a pass, but he should face charges.
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