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

  • @WhipTheLlama@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    521 year ago

    You called him a pedo, but he doesn’t appear to be one. Correcting your mistake doesn’t mean anyone is defending him.

    • Flying Squid
      link
      fedilink
      71 year ago

      How is he not a pedo when he was sexting teenagers? Just because he waited until it was legal to fuck them?

      • @treefrog@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        91 year ago

        He is a pedo he’s just smart enough to wait until they’re 18 to assault them.

        Unfortunately making a pass at a minor isn’t in itself illegal anyplace I’m aware of.

        Touching one definitely and if he tried to meet up with them in person it would show intent.

        Soliciting child porn though? Rape, I mean, he fotced oral sex. That’s rape.

        The guy should be in prison and I suspect with NBC handing thr cops all of this evidence, someone will charge him with something soon.