George Takei Claims Russian Bots Are Spreading Stories About His Sexual Assault Allegations

Living in the year 2017 means that you might come to think that Russia is involved in almost every aspect of American life. But that’s probably not the case here.

After a former model accused actor George Takei of sexually assaulting him in 1981, Takei took to his Facebook and Twitter with evidence he claimed showed that Russian spam bots were spreading the news of his sexual assault allegations around the internet.

In the post, Takei says that Russian bots want him to “cow into silence,” and that he “won’t succumb to that.” Takei also claimed that Russian bots have been targeting him ever since he spoke out against Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Though Takei deleted the post and subsequent tweets, the screenshots live on forever.

“Russia did this” — George Takei

(he deleted but here are the screens) pic.twitter.com/xh7096Qk2n

— Eoin Thanksgivins 🦃🍁🍂 (@EoinHiggins_) November 12, 2017

Add “Russia did it” to the list of classic recent reactions to sex abuse allegations. (Tweet subsequently deleted) pic.twitter.com/8wxwPygMtx

— neontaster (@neontaster) November 12, 2017

Many people on Twitter were upset that Takei seemed to shift the conversation over to Russia rather than the allegations themselves. On Saturday, Takei claimed in a Facebook post that the alleged incident, in which model Scott Brunton claims Takei took advantage of him sexually while drunk, “did not occur.”

Takei caught a lot of flack online for what many deemed a lack of accountability.

George, I say this with all the love in the world toward you. Don’t go in this direction. If the allegations are untrue, say so, and leave it at that. Russia is not trying to silence you. This makes you sound silly (and too self-important).

— Gregory Berry (@GregorySBerry) November 12, 2017

The extent to which predators will avoid accountability:

George Takei, knowing fully well many of his followers are from #Resistance twitter, had deflected his sexual assault allegations onto Russia. This is not only manipulative, but downright disgusting. pic.twitter.com/SwoGuUWgBT

— Josafat Alvarez 🔮🕸 (@SlimJosa) November 12, 2017

george takei trying to use shady think tank grifter charts to claim that russia is boosting allegations against him is really upsetting. idk what to say. it’s bad.

— Jules N. Binoculars hang from the head of the mule (@surfbordt) November 12, 2017

Did @GeorgeTakei actually try to blame Russia for his sexual assault allegations, or is that #FakeNews ?

— Christian Chiakulas (@ChrisChiakulas) November 12, 2017