(Photo: George Takei)
Actor and LGBT activist George Takei apologized on Monday for a conversation with Howard Stern that mocked sexual assault.
The back-and-forth with Stern, reports Towleroad, was brought to light following sexual assault allegations against Takei made by a former male model who said the Star Trek actor groped him in 1981.
Take posted the following on his Facebook page:
Many have raised concern over a back-and-forth between Howard Stern and myself, where we joked about me touching men during my Star Trek days fifty years ago. Out of context, I agree that the joke was distasteful, and I’m very sorry he and I made fun out of a serious matter.
For decades, I have played the part of a “naughty gay grandpa” when I visit Howard’s show, a caricature I now regret. But I want to be clear: I have never forced myself upon someone during a date. Sometimes my dates were the initiators, and sometimes I was. It was always by mutual consent. I see now that that it has come across poorly in the awkward sketch, and I apologize for playing along with Howard’s insinuation.
Non-consensual acts are anathema to me and my personal code of conduct, and I would never do something against anyone’s will, period.
