Justin Roiland used his ‘Rick and Morty’ fame to pursue young fans, text messages show
Justin Roiland used his ‘Rick and Morty’ fame to pursue young fans, text messages show
Roiland’s former fans and dates described disturbing interactions with the animator, with many playing out over texts. One woman said the ‘Rick and Morty’ creator sexually assaulted her, another said she was left ‘traumatized.’ (Warning: This article contains explicit language.)
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
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From the article, really buried: "Roiland usually asked people how old they were, if they were single, and if they were “into girls.” In three cases, when the person said they were under 18, Roiland would message them again months or years later. Those three conversations started with people who said they were 16 at the time, and continued for years, until they were 18 and older."
After reading the whole article it doesn't seem like he did anything sexual with anyone under 18. My takeaway is that he's a creep, abuses his fame and power (part of a big club there), he's manipulative, and he plies underage people with alcohol to get them to sleep with him, but it appears he's not a pedo. Or at least smart enough not to get caught.
Not a pedo, just a regular rapist. Talk about low bars.
Don't mistake my comment as a defense of him as a person. He's been accused of domestic violence, forced oral sex, and taking advantage of intoxicated women under the drinking age. Despite him getting off on the DV charge, where there's smoke, there's fire. He's obviously a pretty terrible human being.
I just don't like people throwing around 'pedo' unjustly, because it waters it down and takes away the impact when used against even worse monsters.
Even the "forced" oral sex seems really suspect.
But he should have been able to read the situation as well as anyone. If she seems to be setting a trap, maybe don't fall for it?
Either way, the dude seems to be tiptoeing around the borders laws that nobody should be near. Dude's sitting and watching the clock for when his prey turns 18. Even if he might comply with the letter of the law, he's clearly violating the spirit.
16 is not prepubescent which is what pedo is there is another term for teens but i forgot.
Ephebophilia I believe. He's also a groomer, how fun...
Libertarian?
The only people who care about this distinction are pedophiles / whatever that term is.
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Lmao a 16 year old being hit on by a 30 year old is not age appropriate sexual acts, it's about mental maturity
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Nah, I'm just saying I don't feel uncomfortable calling someone who preys on children a pedophile, cause they're gross either way
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Allow me to recite the third sentence of that Wikipedia article you linked since reading comprehension doesn't seem to be your strong suit:
"The legal definition of child generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority.[1] Children generally have fewer rights and responsibilities than adults. They are classed as unable to make serious decisions." such as sex with a grown man
The term is "ephebophilia"
Now you've read my comment
Now you know what that term is
Now you're a pedophile
It's that easy! See you in Thailand!
I said people who care about the distinction, not people who know the term
lol whatever pedo
What's your definition of rape? And why does it apply here? Just wondering
This is textbook grooming
"Hey how old are you?"
- "16"
(ends conversation)
That's not grooming.
Those three conversations started with people who said they were 16 at the time, and continued for years, until they were 18 and older.
This is a quote from the comment you're responding to... It IS textbook grooming. He didn't stop talking to them when he found out they were underage.
Except he didn't end the conversation. Read the article, fuckwit
You kiss your daddy with that mouth?
Only below the waist
And continued for years is the key.
He made sexually explicit comments to minors for years. And solicited pictures? That's solicitation of child pornography
The guys a pedo. Rather or not he gets charged with something related to under age girls, we'll see.
According to the screenshots shared by Twitter user @/MartyAmericaUSA, Roiland asked the minor to run away from school and go into “sx slavery.” He also allegedly addressed her as a “ft btch,” called her “jailbait,” and said she would go into “cam w*ing” once she turns 18.
A Facebook user called Janna Waters also claimed that Roiland texted on Twitter when she was 16 and called her “insanely hot.” The user also alleged that the Rick and Morty co-creator allegedly had a “predatory scout” named Christy who used to find “young girls who looked a certain way” for the creator.
No, dude's a pedo. "Starting the conversation" with someone who's underage then waiting til 5 minutes after their 18th birthday to make a move doesn't make you not a pedo, it makes you a pedo who doesn't want to go to prison. Even then, there are at least two documented cases where he didn't wait. Because he's a pedo.
No he's a pedo that just barely skirts the law so he doesn't get gang raped in prison.
You say he abuses his fame and power. I don't really see and power accept money and fame. If people are attracted to fame and power, then why should he not be allowed to use his? Why is that different than a woman who shows off her breasts to get a date?
You don't see why unbalanced power dynamics lead to abusive situations?
So you are saying that all golddiggers are automatically victims now because there is an ‘unbalanced power dynamic’?
Yes, that's what OP is saying.
So now I have to feel sorry for girls who choose to only date old millionaires? Crazy…
Welcome to 2023. Accountability went out in the 90s.
I don't really get the people that bitching about using their fame to get laid either. Are we only allowed to date within our own social class? If they're being coercive, yea, that's a problem but it's possible to have a relationship without coercion.
I'm not defending this dude but the problem with him was that he was pursuing minors not that he was famous and successful.