In a new Netflix special – ‘Right Now’, comedian Aziz Ansari addressed the #MeToo allegations that were levelled against him in January 2018.
In the show released on the video streaming website on 9 July, Ansari told the audience, “I haven’t said much about that whole thing, but I’ve talked about it on this tour, “cause you’re here and it means a lot to me”.
“There were times I felt really upset and humiliated and embarrassed, and ultimately I just felt terrible this person felt this way. And after a year or so, I hope it was a step forward. It moved things forward for me, made me think about it a lot, and I hope I’ve become a better person.”Aziz Ansari
During his set, Ansari recounted an incident in which a friend of his told him the situation made him rethink every date he has been on.
“If that has made not just me but other guys think about this, and just be more thoughtful and aware and willing to go that extra mile, and make sure someone else is comfortable in that moment, that’s a good thing,” he said.
The comedian claimed that the incident had given him perspective on his life. “There was a moment where I was scared that I’d never be able to do this again,” he admitted.
However, this wasn’t the first time Ansari addressed the sexual misconduct allegations in a show since January 2018. During a pop-up show in New York in February this year, Ansari delivered a monologue addressing the issue which was identical to the one seen it the latest Netflix special.
Sexual Misconduct Allegations in Jan 2018
In January 2018, the ‘Master of None’ actor was accused of sexual assault by a 23-year-old photographer from Brooklyn. In an interview with Babe.net (now defunct), the photographer alleged that Ansari invited her over to his home and made sexual advances at her despite her physically indicating that she was not interested.
Ansari maintained that the encounter had been “consensual” and put out a statement saying he was “surprised and concerned” to learn that the woman concerned “felt uncomfortable”.
(With inputs from Vulture)
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