Aziz Ansari Performs for First Time Since Sexual Misconduct Allegation
Aziz Ansari made his return to live standup comedy over the weekend, performing on stage for the first time since a January 2018 allegation of sexual assault, as Brooklyn Vegan reports. He performed a handful of sets at New York City’s Comedy Cellar, according to the venue’s Instagram and attendees’ social media posts. According to Brooklyn Vegan, “Subjects he’s been covering in his set include millennials, Starbucks and racism.”
In April, Ansari made his first public appearance since the allegation when he sat courtside at a New York Knicks game.
On January 13, the website Babe.net posted a lengthy account from an anonymous 23-year-old woman who said, “I believe that I was taken advantage of by Aziz,” regarding a September 2017 date with Ansari. “I was not listened to and ignored. It was by far the worst experience with a man I’ve ever had,” she added. The woman also told Babe, “It took a really long time for me to validate this as sexual assault.”
On January 15, Aziz Ansari released a statement, writing that he believed their encounter had been consensual. He closed the note: “I continue to support the movement that is happening in our culture. It is necessary and long overdue.”
