The woman, named only as Grace, said the comedian kept trying to have sex with her despite her numerous attempts to say no.
- A woman has accused Aziz Ansari of sexual assault.
- She said the comedian kept attempting to have sex with her despite her signalling that she didn't want to.
- Ansari said the night's events were "by all indications... completely consensual."
A woman has accused comedian Aziz Ansari of sexual assault during a date with the comedian, calling it a "violating night and a painful one" — but Ansari responded by describing the encounter as "consensual".
The Brooklyn-based photographer, identified only as Grace, told Babe.net she went home with Ansari after going on a date with him in New York.
She then described, in graphic detail, Ansari's numerous attempts to have sex with her, despite her using "verbal and non-verbal cues to indicate how uncomfortable and distressed she was," according to Babe.
Grace told Babe: "Most of my discomfort was expressed in me pulling away and mumbling. I know that my hand stopped moving at some points. I stopped moving my lips and turned cold. [...]
"I didn't leave because I think I was stunned and shocked. This was not what I expected. I'd seen some of his shows and read excerpts from his book and I was not expecting a bad night at all, much less a violating night and a painful one."
The video below shows the text exchange between Ansari and Grace after the matter, in which Ansari apologises and said he "misread things in the moment."
Ansari recently won a Golden Globes award for his Netflix TV show, "Master of None." He wore a pin supporting the "Time's Up" organisation, which aims to combat sexual harassment and sexism in workplaces across the US.
Prominent figures in entertainment, journalism, and politics have been swept with a wave of sexual allegations since October, when The New York Times detailed multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault against film producer Harvey Weinstein.
Since the publication of Grace's story, Ansari has issued a statement acknowledging the incident, and said his "sexual activity" with Grace was "by all indications... completely consensual."
Here's Ansari's full statement, as cited by The Fader:
"In September of last year, I met a woman at a party. We exchanged numbers. We texted back and forth and eventually went on a date. We went out to dinner, and afterwards we ended up engaging in sexual activity, which by all indications was completely consensual.
"The next day, I got a text from her saying that although 'it may have seemed okay,' upon further reflection, she felt uncomfortable. It was true that everything did seem okay to me, so when I heard that it was not the case for her, I was surprised and concerned. I took her words to heart and responded privately after taking the time to process what she had said.
"I continue to support the movement that is happening in our culture. It is necessary and long overdue."