Comedian Aziz Ansari has responded to a woman’s report that he pressured her into sexual activity, saying he thought the interaction had been “completely consensual”, but that he “took her words to heart”.
The 23-year-old Brooklyn-based photographer’s account of an evening spent with the Master On None star appeared in Babe on Saturday. Speaking anonymously, the woman said she had met Ansari at a 2017 Emmy Awards after-party then met up with him for a date in September.
Listen: We need to talk about Aziz Ansari
She describes a sexual encounter where the 34-year-old kissed her, performed oral sex on her and asked her to do the same, despite her ” verbal and non-verbal cues” that she was uncomfortable.
"He sat back and pointed to his penis and motioned for me to go down on him," she told Babe. "And I did. I think I just felt really pressured. It was literally the most unexpected thing I thought would happen at that moment because I told him I was uncomfortable."
The next day she sent Ansari a text saying she had felt "uneasy" to which she said he responded, "Clearly, I misread things in the moment and I’m truly sorry."
In his statement, issued today, Ansari also said he responded to her text with concern.
Ansari said after texting back and forth, the pair had dinner, and afterwards "we ended up engaging in sexual activity, which by all indications was completely consensual".
Listen: The Mamamia Out Loud team explain what the Time’s Up movement actually does. (Post continues.)
"The next day, I got a text from her saying that although 'it may have seemed okay,' upon further reflection, she felt uncomfortable.
"It was true that everything did seem okay to me, so when I heard that it was not the case for her, I was surprised and concerned. I took her words to heart and responded privately after taking the time to process what she had said."
Listen to the latest episode of Mamamia Out Loud here:
Ansari - who wore black and a Time's Up pin to the Golden Globe Awards indicating his endorsement of the initiative against sexual harassment - concluded by saying he supports the "necessary and long overdue" movement.
Top Comments
"...although 'it may have seemed ok', upon further reflection, she felt uncomfortable." I find this very confusing. After the first encounter, she said she felt uncomfortable and pressured, he was surprised, but apologised. They went out again, had more sexual contact, and she decided afterwards that she was uncomfortable. Honestly, to me this sounds more like regretting your choices after the fact, rather than assault or impropriety. I know I run the risk of being accused of victim blaming, but she doesn't seem like she's being very clear here. This is a very grey area to me.
It's not just you, I thought the same. Despite what many people say, there definitely is a grey area.
She was uncomfortable the first time so told him. Then she put herself right back in the same position a second time? Fool me once....
I agree. There have been times i have felt "uneasy" afterwards but I do not at all consider this sexual assault!
Agree. Her own very detailed account sounds like she wanted to be with him, but wasn’t all too thrilled with how it panned out and that her behaviour swayed from being interested to not, and back and forth. It sounds like poor communication from both parties that resulted in regret from Grace. An unfortunate learning experience? Yes. Something to be dealt with in such a public manner and liken to sexual assault? No.