‘Rick & Morty’ Creator Justin Roiland Accused of Sexual Assault, Grooming Underage Fans “For Years” In Shocking New Report

A report from NBC News details new accusations against Rick and Morty creator and star Justin Roiland, who has already been removed from the hit Adult Swim series over previous allegations.

In the report, which include interviews from 11 people and “thousands of messages with Roiland from 2013 and 2022,” Roiland is accused of grooming, sexual assault, and pursuing minors and teenagers using his fame.

According to three people who came forward to NBC News, Roiland first messaged them when they were 16 years old and “continued for years” until they were 18 or older. Two of the people separately recalled him calling them “jailbait.” One person recalled mentioning their aspirations to start streaming video games, to which he replied, “I bet you’d do good. Then once you turn 18 you just start cam whoring,” referring to a form of online sex work.

Janna Waters, who is nonbinary, posted screenshots of the conversations they had with Roiland on social media. Roiland was 35 years old when they began speaking in 2016. Waters was 16.

They kept in touch over the years until Waters was around 20 years old. In 2019, Waters claimed Roiland encouraged them to drink despite being under drinking age and tried to get them to kiss two women while at a party. NBC News reports that Waters previously looked to Roiland as a “mentor,” but now believes he “‘groomed’ them, having only reached out to begin a relationship that could one day turn sexual.”

“Since before day one I was just another conquest to him,” Waters wrote in a Facebook post detailing the allegations in 2022. “I think what hurts me most is the fact that he wasn’t actually my friend.”

One woman accused Roiland of sexually assaulting her after they went on a Tinder date in 2019.

She provided text messages that showed her confronting him about it in June of that year, writing, “The sexual stuff that happened with us was not handled by you in the best way and i just want you to take that into account in future dates. I know it was not black or white but verbal consent is important.”

“S— yeah, I didn’t??” Roiland replied. “I’m really sorry! F— […] That’s not cool at all — jeeeesus That is not me whatsoever… I literally didn’t get consent??”

Multiple people claimed they decided to come forward after hearing other people’s experiences with the writer and voice actor.

Roiland’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, said the allegations made in the report are “false and defamatory” in a letter sent to NBC News.

Roiland was fired from Adult Swim earlier this year after he was charged with felony domestic abuse. The charges were later dismissed, but his claim to fame, Rick and Morty, has already began moving forward without him with plans to recast the titular characters Roiland famously voiced.

If you or someone you know needs to reach out about sexual abuse or assault, RAINN is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or online at RAINN.org.