Model Scott R. Brunton told The Hollywood Reporter that he was sexually assaulted by actor George Takei.
Brunton said it happened in 1981, when he was 23-years-old and working as a waiter in Los Angeles. He met Takei at a bar and they exchanged numbers and called from time to time, according to Brunton.
When Brunton broke up with his then-boyfriend, he called Takei who invited him out. “He was very good at consoling me and understanding that I was upset and still in love with my boyfriend,” he said. “He was a great ear. He was very good about me spilling my heart on my sleeve.”
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The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.Then they went back to Takei’s place for a drink. “We have the drink and he asks if I would like another. And I said sure.”
He said that he felt more disoriented than one would expect for two drinks.
So, I have the second one, and then all of a sudden, I begin feeling very disoriented and dizzy, and I thought I was going to pass out. I said I need to sit down and he said sit over here and he had the giant yellow beanbag chair. So I sat down in that and leaned my head back and I must have passed out….
The next thing I remember I was coming to and he had my pants down around my ankles and he was groping my crotch and trying to get my underwear off and feeling me up at the same time, trying to get his hands down my underwear. I came to and said, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘I don’t want to do this.’ He goes, ‘You need to relax. I am just trying to make you comfortable. Get comfortable.’ And I said, ‘No. I don’t want to do this.’ And I pushed him off and he said, ‘OK, fine.’ And I said I am going to go and he said, ‘If you feel you must. You’re in no condition to drive.’ I said, ‘I don’t care I want to go.’ So I managed to get my pants up and compose myself and I was just shocked. I walked out and went to my car until I felt well enough to drive home, and that was that.
The Hollywood Reporter spoke to four of Brunton’s friends who confirmed that he told them this story years ago.
Takei has responded on Twitter.
Friends,
I’m writing to respond to the accusations made by Scott R. Bruton. I want to assure you all that I am as shocked and bewildered at these claims as you must feel reading them. /1
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
The events he describes back in the 1980s simply did not occur, and I do not know why he has claimed them now. I have wracked my brain to ask if I remember Mr. Brunton, and I cannot say I do. /2
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
But I do take these claims very seriously, and I wanted to provide my response thoughtfully and not out of the moment. /3
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
Right now it is a he said / he said situation, over alleged events nearly 40 years ago. But 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. /4
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
Brad, who is 100 percent beside me on this, as my life partner of more than 30 years and now my husband, stands fully by my side. I cannot tell you how vital it has been to have his unwavering support and love in these difficult times. /5
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
Thanks to many of you for all the kind words and trust. It means so much to us.
Yours in gratitude,
George /end
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017
Brunton said that he hasn’t publicly told this story because he was worried that no one would believe him. “It’s my word against his,” he said.
But his opinion changed when Takei castigated actor Kevin Spacey’s alleged assault of actor Anthony Rapp.
“For Anthony Rapp, he has had to live with the memory of this experience of decades ago,” Takei said in a statement. “For Kevin Spacey, who claims not to remember the incident, he was the older, dominant one who had his way. Men who improperly harass or assault do not do so because they are gay or straight — that is a deflection. They do so because they have the power, and they chose to abuse it.”
Takei, who is now 80, rose to fame in the role of Lieutenant Sulu on the original series of Star Trek and several of the franchise’s films. In recent years, he has been an outspoken advocate of LGBTQ rights and critic of Donald Trump.
