In the years following the 2013 debut of Adult Swim’s cartoon phenomenon “Rick and Morty,” its star and co-creator Justin Roiland became a titan of the animation and video game industry and a rock star of youth counterculture. His artistic style and caricatures became ubiquitous in cannabis culture, and his career expanded into producing other animated series, creating NFTs and leading a virtual reality gaming studio. In 2017, a “Rick and Morty” collaboration with McDonald’s led to such a viral frenzy that police had to be called to at least two locations.
But as he partied with Los Angeles’ superstars and traveled the country for conventions, he also found he could use his fame to strike up conversations and develop relationships with young fans, including some who were underage. This is according to interviews with 11 women and nonbinary people who shared thousands of messages with Roiland from 2013 to 2022 — with nine of the people saying he turned the exchanges sexual. Of those nine people, three said they were 16 when they started talking to Roiland. To corroborate their stories, the 11 women and nonbinary people also shared pictures, videos, social media posts, emails, and plane ticket and Uber receipts with NBC News.
Warning: Lengthy and graphic details
“Young” could be misinterpreted as 18. “Underage” is the right word.
Yeah, this story needs way more precision than it has.
“Were 16 when they started texting him”. Ok, well how old were they written the allegations occurred, and what is he alleged to have done?
Seems like he waited until they were 18 before meeting them, although he would send sexually-charged texts to women as young as 16.
Roiland usually asked people how old they were, if they were single, and if they were “into girls.” In three cases, when the person said they were under 18, Roiland would message them again months or years later. Those three conversations started with people who said they were 16 at the time, and continued for years, until they were 18 and older.
So did he actually groom them? Because the way this is written it sounds like he asked them their age, and then waited for them to be legal, which is creepy, but I wouldn’t call it grooming.
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Lmao age of consent laws don’t mean it isn’t statutory rape.
They totally do. By definition. What do you think the “statute” in “statutory” is referring to?
Tshh it’s when you rape a statue silly.
I think it’s Betrayal at House on the Hill where you lay out all the tiles to build the house, and one of them has permanently become the Statutory Corridor according to our house rules (because we’ve misread it so many times).
I think you’re missing the double negative I used. Lol I’m saying that even if someone is above the age of consent, statutory rape is still an applicable charge.
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Take it up with Virginia; age of consent there is 15. Intercourse with a minor above 15 as an adult can still give you statutory rape charges, as referenced here: “The age of consent for intercourse is 15 years old in Virginia; however, there are other sex acts that set the age at 18. These acts include cunnilingus, fellatio, and anal intercourse, which means that minors cannot legally consent to certain sexual activity. Additionally, if you are an adult and have sex with a person under 18 years of age, you may be prosecuted for statutory rape. Statutory rape is generally charged as a Class 4 Felony, but the exact charge and penalties will depend on all the factors and ages involved.”
Pulled from https://www.roanokecriminalattorney.com/how-does-virginia-define-consent/
It isn’t always the case, generally age of consent precludes it, but not always. Age of consent isn’t a get out of jail free card. Additionally, it doesn’t specify about relations between people in positions of power.
It’s all moot anyway, Roiland lives in CA, and he was inviting a 17 year old to his house in Los Angeles. Age of consent there is 18. Did he assault her? No, but what 36 year old man is inviting a 17 year old to his house? Multiple other reports of girls at 18, still in high school, also receiving advances from him.
There is further conversation with another user below this, but that isn’t the case in some places, namely Virginia.
Additionally, statutory rape isn’t just bound to age of consent. There are myriad other statutes it can apply through, namely family, age difference, and positions of power over minors above the age of consent.
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Literally in the second paragraph of the article and the summary at the top of this post.
But as he partied with Los Angeles’ superstars and traveled the country for conventions, he also found he could use his fame to strike up conversations and develop relationships with young fans, including some who were underage.
The article then goes on to discuss his conversations with underage fans. The article uses “young” because his conversations with of-age but teenaged fans were also bad.
Talking about the title
I think you must have missed their last sentence. The title uses young because it wasn’t just underaged girls he was texting, and texting the 18 and 19 year olds at his age is also a pretty bad look.
The fact that these women and enby folks were underage is like the most important part of the story. Calling underage girls “young” and not correctly calling them underage in the title of the story is called burying the lede.
Justin Roiland used his ‘Rick and Morty’ fame to pursue young and underage fans, text messages show would have been a better title.
For most people, except apparently many in this thread, “young” heavily implies underage. When character limits matter, it’s okay to start by saying “young,” which is accurate, then clarify further in the article.
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I tend to give jokes a pass. Humor is often contextual and cultural so some jokes really do require an explanation.
Per the article, he explicitly did not pursue underage fans, though.
Roiland usually asked people how old they were, if they were single, and if they were “into girls.” In three cases, when the person said they were under 18, Roiland would message them again months or years later. Those three conversations started with people who said they were 16 at the time, and continued for years, until they were 18 and older.
Still creepy if not illegal at just above 18. Turns out he was more than just creepy though.
“Underage” in which locale, and for what? If you’re referring to age of consent, 16 isn’t underage in most places, as it shouldn’t be.
Fuck off pedo
What makes you right and a lot of the rest of the world wrong? Why is 18 the right number instead of 16?
I’m not arguing with a pedo
From the article, really buried: “Roiland usually asked people how old they were, if they were single, and if they were “into girls.” In three cases, when the person said they were under 18, Roiland would message them again months or years later. Those three conversations started with people who said they were 16 at the time, and continued for years, until they were 18 and older.”
After reading the whole article it doesn’t seem like he did anything sexual with anyone under 18. My takeaway is that he’s a creep, abuses his fame and power (part of a big club there), he’s manipulative, and he plies underage people with alcohol to get them to sleep with him, but it appears he’s not a pedo. Or at least smart enough not to get caught.
Not a pedo, just a regular rapist. Talk about low bars.
Don’t mistake my comment as a defense of him as a person. He’s been accused of domestic violence, forced oral sex, and taking advantage of intoxicated women under the drinking age. Despite him getting off on the DV charge, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. He’s obviously a pretty terrible human being.
I just don’t like people throwing around ‘pedo’ unjustly, because it waters it down and takes away the impact when used against even worse monsters.
16 is not prepubescent which is what pedo is there is another term for teens but i forgot.
Libertarian?
Ephebophilia I believe. He’s also a groomer, how fun…
The only people who care about this distinction are pedophiles / whatever that term is.
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I said people who care about the distinction, not people who know the term
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Even the “forced” oral sex seems really suspect.
But he should have been able to read the situation as well as anyone. If she seems to be setting a trap, maybe don’t fall for it?
Either way, the dude seems to be tiptoeing around the borders laws that nobody should be near. Dude’s sitting and watching the clock for when his prey turns 18. Even if he might comply with the letter of the law, he’s clearly violating the spirit.
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This is textbook grooming
“Hey how old are you?”
- “16”
(ends conversation)
That’s not grooming.
Those three conversations started with people who said they were 16 at the time, and continued for years, until they were 18 and older.
This is a quote from the comment you’re responding to… It IS textbook grooming. He didn’t stop talking to them when he found out they were underage.
Except he didn’t end the conversation. Read the article, fuckwit
You kiss your daddy with that mouth?
Only below the waist
And continued for years is the key.
He made sexually explicit comments to minors for years. And solicited pictures? That’s solicitation of child pornography
The guys a pedo. Rather or not he gets charged with something related to under age girls, we’ll see.
According to the screenshots shared by Twitter user @/MartyAmericaUSA, Roiland asked the minor to run away from school and go into “sx slavery.” He also allegedly addressed her as a “ft btch,” called her “jailbait,” and said she would go into “cam w*ing” once she turns 18.
A Facebook user called Janna Waters also claimed that Roiland texted on Twitter when she was 16 and called her “insanely hot.” The user also alleged that the Rick and Morty co-creator allegedly had a “predatory scout” named Christy who used to find “young girls who looked a certain way” for the creator.
No, dude’s a pedo. “Starting the conversation” with someone who’s underage then waiting til 5 minutes after their 18th birthday to make a move doesn’t make you not a pedo, it makes you a pedo who doesn’t want to go to prison. Even then, there are at least two documented cases where he didn’t wait. Because he’s a pedo.
No he’s a pedo that just barely skirts the law so he doesn’t get gang raped in prison.
You say he abuses his fame and power. I don’t really see and power accept money and fame. If people are attracted to fame and power, then why should he not be allowed to use his? Why is that different than a woman who shows off her breasts to get a date?
You don’t see why unbalanced power dynamics lead to abusive situations?
So you are saying that all golddiggers are automatically victims now because there is an ‘unbalanced power dynamic’?
I don’t really get the people that bitching about using their fame to get laid either. Are we only allowed to date within our own social class? If they’re being coercive, yea, that’s a problem but it’s possible to have a relationship without coercion.
I’m not defending this dude but the problem with him was that he was pursuing minors not that he was famous and successful.
Man, why’d he have to be such a fuckin’ gross creep? Why couldn’t he just have been creative and weird and depressed?
If you add funny to that list you get Dan Harmon.
Dan Harmon was super problematic in his own way. His difference was he apologized to the people he wronged in a way that they accepted, and seems to have changed his behavior. His change in behavior seems to be part of what left Justin out to dry as Dan no longer came to work intoxicated, but Roiland just kept doing it.
Well the subtype of funny that Rolland had (and Harmon still has to a degree) had was from being creative and weird and sad. Smart, dark, absurdist, existentialist humor. I think that’s a pretty reasonable way to roll it up.
Edit: crossed the names up, derp
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Lmao
Aww geez, Rick.
This really has me wondering how many people are doing the same thing but haven’t been caught.
A person who otherwise wouldn’t be noticed suddenly getting attention they never received thrown at them can easily abuse it if they don’t control their behavior with a moral compass, which is becoming less and less a priority. When something feels good, many indulge. When you overindulge, you justify. When you get good at justifying, you can make anything okay in your head. If you don’t have a line drawn, it’s wild how far people will go… he went way too far and he should endure the consequences.
I think getting to be super famous is much easier if you have no moral compass to begin with.
Or a successful politician
I contend it’s not that it’s less of a priority but rather we’re (as a society) getting better at collecting evidence, identifying un aceptable behaviour, and taking people seriously when they present an accusation. I firmly believe humans have done and do worse all the time.
I agree, actually. It’s actually unreasonable to think people were any better or worse before, there’s always good and bad… The difference is what’s accepted by the rest of us. Great response, I appreciate it!
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Women DM famous people all the time and randomly fuck them. I personally some that have done it. They are just like meet me at this hotel.
Which there’s absolutely nothing wrong with, provided both parties are over 18
No one is upset that he fucked fans, there upset that he at least tried to fuck underaged fans.
Frankly if you don’t see a difference, I’m scared for you
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Found Polanski’s account.
Plenty of folks arguing now that literally any imbalance of power is unacceptable – I’ve heard people argue that it is also not time-limited. So rich people can’t fuck poor people, a professor can’t ever fuck a former student even if they meet years later at a conference, and don’t even think about workplace romance ever again if you are talking about college educated folks. The insane rules mean that you’re only allowed to date someone precisely the same as you in every way. These are the same cis het allies that helped alienate and target the trans community through absolute absurdity.
The comment chain didn’t imply any of what you said about my comment. You’re putting words in my mouth, I’ll leave it at that.
You’re only just now wondering this?!
Glad to see more reporting on this. The way they swapped out Roiland’s voice in Solar Opposites was absolutely perfect, it really hasn’t lost anything imo.
I still fucking laugh thinking about it.
It was so unexpected for me that they would make a change to a hoity British accent and just run with it like nothing happened.
Brilliantly handled. I’m actually looking forward to how they are going to make the change for Rick and Morty now.
Maybe a cockney British accent. Oi Mor-y iss time for nother venture get in da car cunt.
It’s an adventyah, innit?
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Not just any hoity British accent, that’s Dan Stevens. Main character in Legion if you’ve seen that show.
They’ve said that they’re using soundalikes for R&M, so no British Rick.
“This is what my voice sounds like now. I don’t care if it’s jarring, get over it. And that Voice Changer Ray had chronotons in it, so this is what I’m gonna sound like in flashbacks too. You got a problem with that? Then tough shit, it’s called science!”
Wait, he was voiced by Roland? I thought they were just taking a shot at Roland and Rick and Morty, that’s 10x funnier
Grooming is more than just convincing a minor to not tell their parents.
The actual definition is grooming a minor for a later sexual relationship (not fully restricted to them still being a minor)
As with any scummy/horrible behavior, there are levels of scum/horribleness.
Fucking disgusting, I will never understand people like this.
That’s a man in a position of power
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AMIPOPAB
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All Men In Positions Of Power Are Bastards
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So the only thing stopping you from doing stuff like this is power?
I never liked him much, but I had no idea he was a pedo.
According to the article he would text underage women but would refuse to meet them until they were 18. Seems like he was operating within the law.
That’s called grooming, it’s arguably worse.
I’m pretty sure that having sex with underage girls is worse but that’s just me.
The worst thing is the hypocrisy!
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Wow. You think that’s actually defensible?
You called him a pedo, but he doesn’t appear to be one. Correcting your mistake doesn’t mean anyone is defending him.
How is he not a pedo when he was sexting teenagers? Just because he waited until it was legal to fuck them?
He is a pedo he’s just smart enough to wait until they’re 18 to assault them.
Unfortunately making a pass at a minor isn’t in itself illegal anyplace I’m aware of.
Touching one definitely and if he tried to meet up with them in person it would show intent.
Soliciting child porn though? Rape, I mean, he fotced oral sex. That’s rape.
The guy should be in prison and I suspect with NBC handing thr cops all of this evidence, someone will charge him with something soon.
Sexting minors (under 18) is illegal in most places, including California, even if they’re above the age of consent.
…yes? He’s waiting till they’re 18. Besides the fact that, as someone referenced above, in many states the age of consent is 16, so, if he was really scummy, he wouldn’t have even waited at all.
Again, I find it very hard to believe that adults can sext teenagers legally. I’d like some evidence for that claim.
Again, I find it very hard to believe that adults can sext teenagers legally. I’d like some evidence for that claim.
They make lists of illegal acts in the law books, they don’t generally list the legal ones. I’m curious if this is a crime as well, so please share with the rest of us if you find the answer to this question.
You’re curious if this was a crime, but above you’re saying it isn’t a big deal because he waited until they were 18 to act. Which is it?
you’re saying it isn’t a big deal
Literally nobody said that. Nobody is trying to defend this guy. Suggesting that Roiland was “operating within the law” is a claim of the facts of the case, not a defense of the morality of his actions.
you’re saying it isn’t a big deal because he waited until they were 18 to act.
Where did I say that? Please cite the text.
You appear to be projecting a lot of positions onto my comments that I do not hold. All I’ve said is that he does not seem to have broken the law based on the article and my own legal knowledge, I never said anything about what was or was not, “a big deal.” Having sex with 18-year-olds is not an example of pedophilia, legally speaking.
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Morally or legally?
Does it being legal make it okay? And I’m not sure sending sexual messages to 16-year-olds is legal.
I don’t think they are defending him, but if they’re right he’s adhering to the letter of the law, not necessarily the spirit of it.
Is adults texting sexually explicit things to 16-year-olds legal? I find that hard to believe.
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I just assume anyone remotely famous is some kind of foul person behind the scenes.
😭
Oof.
No, Paul Rudd, nooo! You’re too pure!
High positions of power/money/fame tend to attract those types unfortunately.
And gradually create them too.
What a cringe lord.
not gonna lie, after reading the article, there’s not a lot there. I understand that people can be put in positions where they feel like they “have” to say yes, but they literally don’t? I think this is more of a case like Louie C.K. These guys are likely autistic and lacking the ability to really clue in on social cues. Guys that have always been unattractive and lacking in attention from women, suddenly has all the attention of women! So they do dumb stuff, that they should have learned not to do when they were young, but again, nerds gonna nerd, and nerds have not always been celebrated like they are today. I think he just going through a slutty phase because he finally can. from his texts he doesn’t come off as a predator, but as a person who’s so used to being told “no,” that he doesn’t know what to do with himself or how to act once they started saying “yes.”
I think this is more of a case like Louie C.K
You tell me you say that the guy who literally waited for women in their dressingroom naked and started to masterbute as they walked in was just “lacking the ability to really clue in on social cues”.
I don’t know anymore with these apologists like you. Are you trolling or really this misguided?
If I remember correctly he asked them first and wasn’t just in their room naked. They just felt they couldn’t say no because he was in a position of power.
Although I think this is a little different because it involves children who may think they know what they are doing but don’t fully understand yet. So a little different
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I thought he invited the women to his room, and never tried to force them to show up or stay. I’m not trying to defend Louis, the most charitable thing you can say is that it was creepy and weird AF. But If there is more to it, this is the first I’m hearing of it.
These guys are likely autistic and lacking the ability to really clue in on social cues.
My wife is autistic, that’s not how autism works. You may be bad at reading social ques, but that doesn’t mean you don’t understand rejection, or that you don’t understand that you shouldn’t be prowling for underaged women. Most of the times its just not picking up inflections of voice, or they don’t know if theyre reading people’s facial expressions correctly.
So they do dumb stuff, that they should have learned not to do when they were young, but again, nerds gonna nerd, and nerds have not always been celebrated like they are today. I think he just going through a slutty phase
Kinda sounds like youre equivocating powerful old dudes grooming kids to boys will be boys…
his texts he doesn’t come off as a predator, but as a person who’s so used to being told “no,” that he doesn’t know what to do with himself or how to act once they started saying “yes.”
The simple fact that he’s talking to several 16 year old about sex is predatory in and of it’s self.
Maybe its because I’m closer to his age than most people on here, but the thought of chatting up anyone close to 16 years old is fucking gross. I have nothing in common with a sixteen year old girl, he has nothing in common with a sixteen year old girl.
He just a gross asshole, and anyone who defends him because you like the same shitty played out subculture… is also a gross asshole.
If I did what I did as a kid now I would find myself an asshole
You’re joking… right?
Imagine being so lucky that you become a household name off of animation of all things but then deciding to do exactly what John K did. At least Rick and Morty won’t go the way of Ren and Stimpy. Not yet, anyway.
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