Justin Roiland (Adventure Time, Gravity Falls) is facing multiple accounts of alleged sexual harassment from underage fans, and coworkers who allegedly witnessed some of his alleged transgressions, according to Comicbook. Roiland is most known for his irreverent adult animation comedies with heavy sci-fi themes like Rick & Morty and Solar Opposites.
On January 12, NBC News revealed Roiland was facing two felony charges in Orange County stemming from an alleged 2020 domestic violence incident that occurred with a woman he was dating at the time. Roiland was immediately cut from Adult Swim’s production of Rick & Morty with the studio stating, “Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland. Rick and Morty will continue. The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on Season 7.” Hulu cut ties with him shortly after.
Since then, this new Hollywood Reporter report has outlined that the creator faced multiple claims of alleged bad behavior, including an alleged sexual harassment claim while working on Rick & Morty.
After the charges against Roiland came to light, other workers and creators on the show reported more alleged unprofessional behavior and alleged that Roiland was a negative presence behind the scenes for other members of the production staff.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, one alleged account stated, “Roiland once paraded a high-profile [adult film] star through the Rick and Morty writer’s room, openly discussed threesomes and was involved in at least one instance of alleged sexual harassment during the show’s third season, notably its first with female writers.”
The report continues on the topic of the inclusion of the first female writers during Rick & Morty’s third season.
”Roiland did not make any efforts to change his crude jokes and behavior from the first two seasons such as doodling penis monsters and other vulgar characters on the office whiteboards,” alleges another account via THR. “Roiland sent a female employee a ‘really creepy’ text, late at night, requesting that she come to his home.”
Many more reports on Roiland’s alleged advances came soon after from fans and colleagues both particularly of the female persuasion. While the news may have been a shock to those on the outside looking in, The Hollywood Reporter details that Roiland’s alleged incriminating actions pointed to a much larger issue that various staff members had been aware of for a while
Rick & Morty is currently in production without Justin Roiland, though the release date for its new episodes have yet to be confirmed by Adult Swim. The first five seasons of Rick & Morty are now streamable on HBO Max.