Comedian Aziz Ansari broke his silence on the #MeToo allegations that have been levelled against him at a recent show in New York. Ansari explained to the audience that he had remained silent on the matter because he needed time to process and determine what he wanted to say and that “it’s a terrifying thing to talk about”.
According to a report by Vulture, he said,
“There were times I felt really upset and humiliated and embarrassed, and ultimately I just felt terrible this person felt this way. But you know, after a year, how I feel about it is, I hope it was a step forward. It made me think about a lot, and I hope I’ve become a better person.”Aziz Ansari on #MeToo allegations
In January 2018, the Master of None actor was accused of sexual assault by a 23-year-old photographer from Brooklyn. Ansari maintained that the encounter had been “consensual” and put out a statement saying he was “surprised and concerned” to learn that the woman concerned “felt uncomfortable”.
In an interview with Babe, the photographer alleged that Ansari invited her over to his home and made sexual advances at her despite her physically indicating that she was not interested.
During his set, Ansari also recounted an incident in which a friend of his told him the situation made him rethink every date he has been on. “If that has made not just me but other guys think about this, and just be more thoughtful and aware and willing to go that extra mile, and make sure someone else is comfortable in that moment, that’s a good thing,” he said.
The comedian, who is about to embark on an international tour, claimed that the incident had given him perspective on his life. “There was a moment where I was scared that I’d never be able to do this again,” he admitted.
(With inputs from Vulture.)
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