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Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland has been cleared of domestic violence charges, Variety confirms. Kimberly Edds, spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s office, said in a statement, “We dismissed the charges today because we do not have enough evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Roiland took to social media to respond to the dropped charges, writing in a statement that he is “grateful that the case has been dismissed.” He added, “I am still heartbroken by the horrific lies that were told about me during this trial.”
Roiland appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing in January after being charged with one felony count of assault and one felony count of false imprisonment through threat, violence, fraud and/or deception. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in 2020. A second pre-trial hearing was scheduled for April 27.
“I have always known these claims were false – and I never had any doubts that that day would come,” Roiland said in the new statement. “I am grateful that this case was dismissed, but at the same time I am still deeply shocked by the horrible lies that were told about me during this trial. Most of all, I’m disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts, based solely on the words of a bitter ex who was trying to evade due process and ‘cancel’ me.”
Roiland added: “That it might have been even partially successful is embarrassing. However, now that the legal battle is over, I am determined to move on and focus both on my creative projects and on restoring my reputation.”
Roiland’s attorney, T. Edward Welbourn, added in a statement to Variety, “I commend the Orange County Attorney’s Office for conducting a thorough review of the facts and deciding to dismiss the case against Justin. I am grateful that justice has prevailed.”
Adult Swim split from Roiland in late January over domestic violence charges. The network said in a brief statement at the time, “Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland.” Roiland subsequently resigned from Squanch Games, the video game developer banner he co-founded in 2016.
Best known for co-creating the Adult Swim animated comedy Rick and Morty, in which he also voiced the show’s two title characters, Roiland’s credits also include Hulu’s Solar Opposites, which was renewed for a fifth season in October , and Koala Man, which he executive produced and had a voice role in. Hulu also dropped him from both series in January, saying in a statement, “We have ended our collaboration with Justin Roiland.” The shows were not canceled and will continue without his involvement.
Adult Swim and Hulu declined to comment on this latest development.
Welbourn pleaded his client’s innocence back in January in the following statement to Variety: “It’s hard to overstate how inaccurate recent media coverage of this situation has been. To be clear, not only is Justin innocent, but we have an expectation that this matter will be dismissed once the district attorney’s office has completed its methodical review of the evidence. We look forward to clearing Justin’s name and helping him move forward as quickly as possible.”
Rick and Morty Season 6 ended in December 2022, but more episodes are likely to come without Roiland’s involvement.