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"Some people that are kind of, um, um, skittish. Or maybe, uh ... afraid. And you’re trying to persuade. But, you know"

George Takei has denied sexual allegations made by Scott Brunton but admitted to Howard Stern that he forcibly “persuaded” men into sex.

Former model Scott Brunton claimed George Takei undressed and groped him whilst he was unconscious in his LA apartment in 1981. Brunton was 23 at the time while Takei was in his 40s.

The Star Trek actor recently condemned Kevin Spacey for sexually assaulting Anthony Rapp. “Men who improperly harass or assault do not do so because they are gay or straight,” said Takei.

In an account published by The Hollywood Reporter, Brunton claims Takei took him for dinner before leading him back to his flat. The account is as follows:

“We have the drink and he asks if I would like another. And I said sure. So, I have the second one, and then all of a sudden, I begin feeling very disoriented and dizzy, and I thought I was going to pass out. I said I need to sit down and he said sit over here and he had the giant yellow beanbag chair. So I sat down in that and leaned my head back and I must have passed out.”

“The next thing I remember I was coming to and he had my pants down around my ankles and he was groping my crotch and trying to get my underwear off and feeling me up at the same time, trying to get his hands down my underwear. I came to and said, ‘What are you doing?!’ I said, ‘I don’t want to do this.’ He goes, ‘You need to relax. I am just trying to make you comfortable. Get comfortable.’ And I said, ‘No. I don’t want to do this.’ And I pushed him off and he said, ‘OK, fine.’ And I said I am going to go and he said, ‘If you feel you must. You’re in no condition to drive.’ I said, ‘I don’t care I want to go.’ So I managed to get my pants up and compose myself and I was just shocked. I walked out and went to my car until I felt well enough to drive home, and that was that.”

The 80-year-old actor has since denied these allegations with a series of tweets, stating that the incident “simply did not occur”, adding that “non-consensual acts are so antithetical to [his] values and [his] practices”.

Takei then posted and deleted a tweet, blaming “Russian bots” for “amplifying” the allegations.

In the latest of events, a recent interview with radio talk show host Howard Stern has resurfaced, in which Takei reveals that “groped” and “persuaded” men in the past.

Stern brought up the topic of sexual assault by noting the harsher consequences Harvey Weinstein faces compared to Trump. The radio host then asks Takei if he ever inappropriately asked anyone for sex or grabbed their genitals.

Below is the transcript:

Howard Stern: Did you ever grab anybody by the c**k against their will?

[Very long pause]

George Takei: Uhhhh … uh oh! [laughter]

Stern: Well they were different times, you never sexually harassed anybody —

Takei: Hey bonor! [laughter]

Stern: — have you?

Takei: [Laughter] … Some people that are kind of, um, um, skittish. Or maybe, uh … afraid. And you’re trying to persuade. But, you know …

Stern: Do we need to call the police? What are you saying, George? You never held a job over someone if they didn’t touch your c**k?

Takei: No, no, no, no. I never did that. That’s what this is all about. It’s not about sex, it’s about power.

Quivers: But you didn’t do this grabbing at work?

Takei: Oh no, no, no. It was never at work. They came to my home.

Stern: Maybe it was some guy who was hesitating to have sex with you and you gave him a gentle squeeze on the balls or something?

Takei: … More than gentle [laughter]. But it didn’t involve power over the other.

Nonetheless, fans and supporters of Takei still appear to have his back. “People say outrageous things on Howard Stern. That doesn’t prove anything,” one tweeter wrote.

Others seem less forgiving. “Really? How about that Howard Stern interview a month ago where you admit groping men and say you were “weren’t exactly gentle” (forceful)?” one tweeter questioned.

“@GeorgeTakei your denial is alot harder to believe after hearing your Howard Stern comments,” wrote another.