ABC/Lou Rocco(LOS ANGELES) — Star Trek actor George Takei is denying allegations that he sexually assaulted a former model and actor in his Los Angeles home back in the 1980s.
Scott R. Brunton told The Hollywood Reporter that when he was 23, he met Takei, who was in his 40s at the time, at a local bar.
One night in 1981, Brunton claimed, after the two men went out, Takei invited Brunton back to his Los Angeles condo for a nightcap. After a second drink Brunton claims he began feeling dizzy and after sitting down, passed out.
Brunton then claims the actor groped him.
ABC News reached out to Brunton, but didn’t immediately hear back. ABC News also reached out to reps for Takei, but didn’t immediately hear back.
Takei, now 80, who is best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu on the original Star Trek series, took to Twitter to deny the allegations.
“I want to assure you all that I am as shocked and bewildered at these claims as you must feel reading them,” he wrote Saturday morning. “The events he describes back in the 1980s simply did not occur, and I do not know why he has claimed them now. I have wracked my brain to ask if I remember Mr. Brunton, and I cannot say I do.”
Takei said he’s taking Brunton’s claims “seriously,” which is why he wanted to respond.
“Right now it is a he said / he said situation, over alleged events nearly 40 years ago,” Takei wrote . “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.”
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