➤ For readers who may have missed the story, can you explain the situation briefly?
Audra: In early January, NBC reported that Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland had been arrested in 2020 and charged with domestic battery and false imprisonment. After that news came out, multiple people claimed on social media that they'd had inappropriate interactions or experiences with Roiland, and the accounts spanned years.
➤ Tell us a little bit about the reporting process. How did the story come about?
Audra: There were a lot of accounts claiming to have had experiences with Roiland, so I started reaching out to as many as I could. I was able to speak to two people who said they had uncomfortable experiences with Roiland. I also spoke with someone who worked at Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites, who said they had a bad experience with the work culture and management at both shows.
➤ What are some of your biggest takeaways from this?
Audra: On Wednesday, the day after our story was published, the charges against Roiland were dismissed due to "insufficient evidence," according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Roiland shared a statement saying he'd been vindicated, and called the accuser an "embittered ex" who was trying to get him "canceled."
While it varies by state, domestic violence cases are often dismissed before going to trial. This could be due to lack of evidence, or the accuser might feel pressure to recant or avoid a public trial. Plus, Roiland still hasn't addressed allegations of inappropriate behavior with fans.
➤ Anything else you want to share with web_crawlr readers?
Audra: These kinds of stories, while challenging to report, are important.
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Keep a civil tongue.