Veteran actor George Takei has issued an apology for his remarks about grabbing men, saying he was joking when he made those comments on RJ-presenter Howard Stern last month.
The "Star Trek" icon was recently accused of sexual harassment by former model-actor Scott R Brunton, when the latter was 23 and at his was most vulnerable.
Takei took to Facebook to clear the air, when a piece of audio surfaced online from Stern's radio programme after the claims, which underscores the actor discussing sexual harassment in the wake of Harvey Weinstein expose.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the veteran actor had commented on US President Donald Trump gloating about groping women, when Stern asked him if had grabbed a man against his will.
Takei, a vocal opponent of Trump, answered Stern only after he was asked the second time, saying, "Some people are kind of skittish, or maybe, um, uh, afraid, and you're trying to persuade."
When the show's co-host Robin Quivers persisted, asking if Takei did "this grabbing at work", he replied, "It was either in my home. They came to my home."
Takei Denied Sexual Assault Allegations
Takei took to Twitter on 11 November to deny groping Brunton, a male model back in the 1980s.
Takei said in a series of tweets that events described by Brunton in The Hollywood Reporter "simply did not occur," and he does not remember ever knowing Brunton.
"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," Takei tweeted.
Brunton told The Hollywood Reporter he was 23 when he first met Takei at a bar. Brunton was living in Hollywood and working as a waiter at the time. They exchanged numbers, speaking by telephone from time to time, when he rang up Takei after breaking up with a boyfriend. Takei invited him to dinner and the theater, Brunton said. He said the two went to Takei's condo for drinks after.
He said he grew dizzy and "must have passed out," awaking to his pants around his ankles and Takei groping him. He said he extricated himself and left.
The Hollywood Reporter said on Friday it spoke to four longtime friends of Brunton who said he had confided in them about Takei years ago.
(With inputs from AP.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)