Roiland’s former fans and dates described disturbing interactions with the animator, with many playing out over texts. One woman said the ‘Rick and Morty’ creator sexually assaulted her, another said she was left ‘traumatized.’ (Warning: This article contains explicit language.)

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

  • sweeny@sh.itjust.works
    126·
    10 months ago

    The only people who care about this distinction are pedophiles / whatever that term is.

      • sweeny@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        10 months ago

        Lmao a 16 year old being hit on by a 30 year old is not age appropriate sexual acts, it’s about mental maturity

          • sweeny@sh.itjust.works
            11·
            10 months ago

            Nah, I’m just saying I don’t feel uncomfortable calling someone who preys on children a pedophile, cause they’re gross either way

              • sweeny@sh.itjust.works
                11·
                10 months ago

                Allow me to recite the third sentence of that Wikipedia article you linked since reading comprehension doesn’t seem to be your strong suit:

                “The legal definition of child generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority.[1] Children generally have fewer rights and responsibilities than adults. They are classed as unable to make serious decisions.” such as sex with a grown man

                  • sweeny@sh.itjust.works
                    11·
                    10 months ago

                    I was using the legal (and very commonly used, btw) definition of child, since *acting on pedophilia is illegal. I’m not normalizing anything by comparing them to pedophiles, youre the one trying to normalize sexual relations with people under 18

    • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
      812·
      10 months ago

      The term is “ephebophilia”

      Now you’ve read my comment

      Now you know what that term is

      Now you’re a pedophile

      It’s that easy! See you in Thailand!