Although domestic violence charges against disgraced Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland were dismissed earlier this year, he is now accused of using his fame to force young women and teens to have sex. NBC News’ Kat Tenbarge published text messages and social media direct messages between Roiland and his various accusers in a revealing and disturbing report that includes allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment and coercion.
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Roiland has denied the allegations through his lawyer, saying the allegations are “false and defamatory.” After the charges were dismissed, he posted online that he was “determined to move forward and focus on both my creative projects and restoring my good name.”
Between the premiere of “Rick And Morty” and Roiland’s dismissal from the series, the once-revered animator used his fame, influence and money to fly young women and teenage girls to his home in Los Angeles. Three of the 11 participants in NBC’s reporting said Roiland first messaged them when they were 16 years old. Roiland reportedly often stopped communicating with the girls when he learned their ages, only to reappear months or years later.
One person, Janna Waters, who is non-binary, says she was a 16-year-old high school student when Roiland first messaged them. Roiland was 35 years old at the time. Waters believes Roiland “groomed” her. When Waters was 17, they told NBC, Roiland offered to fly her to Los Angeles. When Waters reminded him again that they weren’t 18, Roiland responded, “Haha, holy shit! I assumed it was you.” He paused the trip until 2019, when he flew a 20-year-old Waters to LA. Waters said that while they were hesitant about drinking alcohol, Roiland encouraged them to drink alcohol and kiss a woman at the party. Waters refused.
In another case, Roiland sent a message to a 19-year-old artist from Pennsylvania after she tweeted about Rick and Morty. He contacted her about her artwork and said she was “better than” him at her age. The two continued to communicate until Roiland, as before, offered her a trip to LA and agreed to call the young woman’s father and assure him of her safety on the trip. Roiland and his accuser had the following text exchange after Roiland’s phone call with her father:
“Ahhhh, I didn’t know your whole family was so worried about this trip!” Roiland texted her after the call.
“You just didn’t believe me lmao,” she replied.
“But are they worried that it wasn’t really me, or are they worried, whatever – (by the way, I totally understand),” Roiland wrote.
“I mean, they just love me very much and don’t want anything bad to happen to me!!” the woman replied.
“I will 100% make sure nothing bad happens to you,” Roiland wrote.
Before the premiere of Rick And Morty in 2017, Roiland flew the fan to Los Angeles for a party celebrating the new season. After the party was over, she changed into a swimsuit and joined Roiland and another woman in a hot tub. Roiland encouraged her to have sex with the woman before he had sex with his young fan, who says she was, and still is, uncomfortable with group sex. Later that evening, she called a friend crying while Roiland sent numerous text messages apologizing for making her feel uncomfortable. He expressed a desire to sleep with her and sent her a picture of a man with multiple penises in his mouth 14 times.
Two years after the trip, she wrote: “It’s lucky I’m not the type of person who wants to be famous or well-known or anything like that, because he would probably be ~exposed~ by now. No idea!!!! It’s really on my mind!! like a literal trauma!!”
An accuser has text messages between her and Roiland in which he tells him she did not consent to the sex. In 2019, a 20-year-old who had a Tinder date with Roiland said he bought her alcohol and took her back to his hotel. She says Roiland forced her to perform oral sex on her. Months later she wrote to Roiland:
“The sexual things that happened with us were not handled optimally by you and I just want you to take that into account on future dates. I know it wasn’t black or white, but verbal consent is important.”
“Shit yeah, I didn’t??” he replied. “I’m really sorry! Shit […] That’s not cool at all – jeeeesus. That’s not me at all…I literally didn’t get approval??”
“I mean, you said afterward that you thought it would turn me on to be forced,” the woman replied. “I told you I would have preferred it if it hadn’t happened.”
Read the full report at NBC News.