In the years following the 2013 debut of Adult Swim’s cartoon phenomenon “Rick and Morty,” its star and co-creator Justin Roiland became a titan of the animation and video game industry and a rock star of youth counterculture. His artistic style and caricatures became ubiquitous in cannabis culture, and his career expanded into producing other animated series, creating NFTs and leading a virtual reality gaming studio. In 2017, a “Rick and Morty” collaboration with McDonald’s led to such a viral frenzy that police had to be called to at least two locations.
But as he partied with Los Angeles’ superstars and traveled the country for conventions, he also found he could use his fame to strike up conversations and develop relationships with young fans, including some who were underage. This is according to interviews with 11 women and nonbinary people who shared thousands of messages with Roiland from 2013 to 2022 — with nine of the people saying he turned the exchanges sexual. Of those nine people, three said they were 16 when they started talking to Roiland. To corroborate their stories, the 11 women and nonbinary people also shared pictures, videos, social media posts, emails, and plane ticket and Uber receipts with NBC News.
Warning: Lengthy and graphic details
Removed by mod
Do you say that about all rape victims that don’t report their rape? Are we victim blaming now?
Not victim blaming. If someone went on a date again and asked for money, then I find it a little hard to believe that they were a victim at all.
If you think people never end up staying with the person who raped them, you know nothing about this entire subject.
It’s not airtight proof, but if it happens on the first date and they come back for more several times, that would push me a bit towards ‘reasonable doubt’.
If it about someone who has been married 15 years and has 3 kids with the guy it is a very different situation.
Again, you don’t understand rape if that’s what you think.
Removed by mod
“She’s lying because she let everyone know about it” is a weird way to victim-blame.
Rape victims don’t go to the police for a variety of reasons, even if they tell everyone about their rape. Maybe you trust the police, but many people don’t.
Removed by mod
You absolutely did. You suggested she was lying because she didn’t go to the police. That is textbook victim blaming.
Removed by mod
I didn’t realize he got off on the DV charges.
There are many reasons sexual assault victims don’t come forward. It’s not exactly easy to face the person that raped you in court. Innocent until proven guilty doesn’t matter in the court of public opinion. There’s been enough smoke around this guy for me to write him off without a conviction.
Any number of reasons. Trials of a public figure will forever brand you as “that person who was raped by X”. Not to mention the incredible imbalance in legal resources of a regular person vs Justin Roiland.
Trial by social media is far easier. And he doesn’t get a to mount a defence. It’s like the shortcut for those in the know.
Removed by mod
It’s right in the article. Forced a woman to perform oral sex. She was not underage at the time. He ‘apologized’ later via text, saying he thought she wanted to be forced (I’m paraphrasing, but it’s still gross). It’s still rape.