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

  • CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    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.

      • CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        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.

        • Serinus@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          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.

        • arin@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          16 is not prepubescent which is what pedo is there is another term for teens but i forgot.

          • sweeny@sh.itjust.works
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            10 months ago

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

            • SwingingKoala@discuss.tchncs.de
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              10 months ago

              No, by grouping children in with postpubertal humans who engage in age appropriate sexual acts you downplay pedophilia. You’re an idiot and you insist on being one.

              • sweeny@sh.itjust.works
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                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

                • SwingingKoala@discuss.tchncs.de
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                  10 months ago

                  You’re saying fucking a two year old is the same as fucking a 16 year old you sicko. I never mentioned 30 years anyway, you’re also putting words into my mouth.

                  • sweeny@sh.itjust.works
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                    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

            • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
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              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!

    • treefrog@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      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.

    • Alien Nathan Edward@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/pop-culture/who-allie-goertz-justin-roiland-underage-girls-dm-screenshots-surface-wake-musician-s-accusations

      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.

    • Orbit79@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      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?

      • Neve8028@lemm.ee
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        10 months ago

        You don’t see why unbalanced power dynamics lead to abusive situations?

        • Orbit79@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          So you are saying that all golddiggers are automatically victims now because there is an ‘unbalanced power dynamic’?