Aziz Ansari Ain't Gonna Show Up Just So You Can Boo Him

Following allegations of sexual harassment, the star of the television series Master of None did not attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards, according to reports on January 23, 2018. The allegations, which stemmed from a date in September, were published by the website Babe under the pseudonym Grace.

The actor released a statement asserting that the encounter was entirely consensual. According to the statement, the two went to dinner and later engaged in sexual activity. The actor expressed surprise and concern upon learning that the woman did not view the encounter as consensual, noting that she sent a text message the following day stating she felt uncomfortable upon reflection.

During the broadcast, which was hosted by Kristen Bell as the first female host in the event’s history, winner William H. Macy mentioned Aziz Ansari by name during his acceptance speech. Macy paid tribute to the other nominees in the category, including Anthony Anderson, Larry David, Sean Hayes, and Marc Maron.

Commenting on the report, McHale characterized the encounter as a bad but consensual date. McHale also expressed support for the #MeToo movement, calling it tremendous and necessary to continue, while preparing for a new unscripted series on Netflix.