Hypocritical and troubling remarks by Star Trek actor George Takei have resurfaced online from a recent Howard Stern interview. In the interview, Takei, who was recently accused of nonconsensual groping by a male model some 36 years ago, bashes President Donald Trump for the infamous Access Hollywood “grab ’em by the p****” tape before bragging about grabbing hesitant and “skittish” men by the “c***” in the next breath.
Shock-jock Stern first inquires about the bombshell sexual harassment and assault allegations launched against Democratic megadonor and Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
“I suppose you know of this Harvey Weinstein thing, of course, all over the news,” said Stern. “The irony is, we have a man in the White House who talked about grabbing p****.”
“Exactly,” chimed in Takei, clearly outraged by Trump’s language.
“There is an irony about all of this, is there not, George?” asked Stern.
“Well, it’s a repetition,” replied Takei.
“Did you ever grab anyone by the c*** against their will?” Stern asked Takei, more than once.
After deafening silence, the actor laughed and said, “Uh oh!”
Stern, continually trying to give Takei an out, asked again: “You never sexually harassed anyone…?”
After Stern laughs awkwardly, he asked again: “Have you?”
Takei laughed yet again, but offered no reply.
The Star Trek alum then explained that he grabbed hesitant men “by the c***” in order to “persuade” them into sex.
“Some people that are kind of … umm … skittish or maybe … um … afraid and you’re trying to persuade…” he said.
“It wasn’t at work,” rationalized Takei, suggesting it was never about “power” and therefore okay. “It was either in my home ― they came to my home.”
Stern asked if Takei gave the men “a gentle squeeze on the balls.”
“More than gentle,” responded the actor.
Last week, Takei was accused of sexual assault by former model Scott R. Brunton, who said he was groped by the actor against his will over three decades ago. Takei has denied the accusation.
“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,” Takei wrote via Twitter.
In the past, Takei has suggested stars get away with sexual misconduct by virtue of their celebrity and by gaslighting their victims.
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