George Takei’s Sexual Assault Accuser Changes His Story; Takei Responds

In an interview at The Observer, Scott Brunton, the man who accused George Takei of sexual assault, has changed his story about what he said happened the night of the assault. The reporter, Shane Snow, wrote that he noticed conflicting details during the multiple interviews Brunton did about the story.

“What I discovered after months of investigationand after speaking at length with Brunton, people close to Takei, medical toxicologists and legal experts in sex offenses suggests that this story needs to be recast significantly,” Snow writes. “Brunton, a sympathetic and well-intentioned man, would go on to walk back key details and let slip that, in his effort to be listened to, he’d fabricated some things.”

Brunton told Snow that he actually didn’t think he was drugged at first and it was only because of the emerging stories about Bill Cosby that he started to think differently. After Snow contacted two different medical toxicologists and gave them information about Brunton’s symptoms, both immediately ruled out a spiked drink. It was more likely that the dizziness was due to postural hypotension (the dizzy feeling people get when they stand up too fast) which was exacerbated by alcohol. The other problem with the date rape claim is that Brunton says he drove home that night, which would be inconsistent with the reported effects of those drugs, which leave you with no control of your body for several hours even in small doses.

Later in the interview, Snow blatantly asked Brunton if Takei had touched his genitals.

“You knowprobably,” Brunton replied after some hesitation. “He was clearly on his way tototo going somewhere.”

“Soyou don’t remember him touching your genitals?” the reporter prodded.

Brunton then “confessed that he did not remember any touching.”

Brunton went on to tell Snow that he often told the story of Takei at parties and that he rarely thought of it, and didn’t see it as having scarred him in any way.

“He was 20 years older than me and short. And I wasn’t attracted to Asian men,” Brunton said, describing Takei. “I was a hot, surfer, California boy type that he probably could have only gotten had he bought, paid for or found someone just willing to ride on his coattails of fame.”

Bruton also referred to his interactions with Takei as a great story to tell at parties.

Takei shared some tweets about the Observer piece this morning, writing: “As many of you know, this has been a very difficult period for myself and my husband Brad as we have dealt with the impact of these accusations, but we are happy to see that this nightmare is finally drawing to a close.”

“As I stated before,” he continued, “I do not remember Mr. Brunton or any of the events he described from forty years ago, but I do understand that this was part of a very important national conversation that we as a society must have, painful as it might be.”

“It is in that spirit that I want folks to know, despite what he has put us through, I do not bear Mr. Brunton any ill will, and I wish him peace,” he wrote in his last tweet. “Brad and I are especially grateful for the many fans who stood by me throughout this ordeal. Your support kept us going, and we are so immensely thankful for you.”

As I stated before, I do not remember Mr. Brunton or any of the events he described from forty years ago, but I do understand that this was part of a very important national conversation that we as a society must have, painful as it might be.

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 25, 2018

Brad and I are especially grateful for the many fans who stood by me throughout this ordeal. Your support kept us going, and we are so immensely thankful for you.

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 25, 2018