Aziz Ansari was a no-show at this week's Screen Actors Guild Awards where he is nominated for his performance in Netflix's Master of None.
Like the Golden Globes celebration earlier this month, the awards ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 21, is expected to be politically charged as actors protest against the systemic sexism and sexual harassment in Hollywood. From host Kristen Bell to the winners and nominees, everyone will continue to talk about the #MeToo movement that continues to rock the entertainment industry and various sectors all over the world.
Sexual Misconduct
But Ansari, who was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, was absent at the awards ceremony. The actor has recently been accused of sexual misconduct by a 23-year-old photographer with whom he once went on a date with. Unfortunately, the experience for the woman, referred only as "Grace," was not very pleasant.
Grace told babe.net that the 34-year-old actor ignored her verbal and non-verbal cues and proceeded to have various sexual acts with her.
"I know I was physically giving off cues that I wasn't interested," she stated. "I don't think that was noticed at all, or if it was, it was ignored."
The Master of None star already made a statement confirming Grace's story. He also said that he continues to support the #MeToo movement and the women who are coming out to expose their assailants.
"It was true that everything did seem okay to me, so when I heard that it was not the case for her, I was surprised and concerned," he said. "I took her words to heart and responded privately after taking the time to process what she had said."
Ansari has not offered an explanation as to why he did not appear on the red carpet of the 2018 SAG Awards nor at the ceremony. However, while he was gone, William H. Macy took home the trophy for his outstanding performance on Shameless.
#MeToo At The 2018 SAG Awards
While color came back at the red carpet, the #MeToo movement was a big presence at the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards. While Bell refused to mention the men who are currently facing misconduct allegations in Hollywood, she made an impassioned plea for "empathy and diligence."
"It's a true privilege to experience and share the wide scope of humanity through storytelling," she said. "Everyone's story deserves to be told, especially now."
The ceremony also had an all-female presenter line-up for its 13 awards category this year. Rosanna Arquette, Marisa Tomei, Olivia Munn, Halle Berry, Lupita Nyong'o, Kelly Marie Tran, and Emma Stone are among the actresses who went onstage to present awards.
