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UPDATE: George Takei on Monday apologized for joking on a recent appearance on the Howard Stern show about touching men during his “Star Trek” days 50 years ago. “Out of context, I agree that the joke was distasteful, and I’m very sorry he and I made fun out of a serious matter,” Takei wrote on Facebook.

He added that he plays a caricature of the “naughty gay grandpa” when appearing on Stern’s show, “caricature I now regret.” But he said he wanted to make clear that he never forced himself on someone during a date and that all his sexual encounters have been “by mutual consent.”

Original story follows:

“George Takei! No!”

That exclamation comes from “Claire from H.R,” the harried human resources representative played by Cecily Strong, in a comedy segment on “Saturday Night Live’s” Weekend Update.

After giving co-host Colin Jost a brief seminar on sexual harassment, “Claire” signs off and cries out her disbelief that “Star Trek” icon Takei has become the latest famous man to face allegations of sexual misconduct.

That cry of disbelief echoed across social media over the weekend among fans of Takei and of his progressive politics. Takei has become a social media star for his advocacy of LGBTQ rights and for his opposition to President Donald Trump.

Takei has criticized Trump for the “Access Hollywood” tape in which he boasted about grabbing women’s genitals and blasted the U.S. Senate candidacy of Roy Moore, who was accused in a Washington Post story of pursuing sexual relationships with teenagers — including a 14-year-old — when he was in his 30s.

The allegations against Takei came Friday evening in a story published by the Hollywood Reporter.

Former actor and model Scott Brunton alleged that Takei assaulted him in the “Star Trek” actor’s condo in 1981. Brunton, 23 at the time, believes that Takei slipped something into his drink that caused him to pass out. When he woke up, Takei was trying to reach into his pants.

Takei, traveling in Japan, issued a multi-tweet statement in which he said the events described in the 1980s “simply did not occur.”

Friends, I'm writing to respond to the accusations made by Scott R. Bruton. I want to assure you all that I am as shocked and bewildered at these claims as you must feel reading them. /1 — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2017

Brunton, who now lives in Portland, Oregon, gave an interview over the weekend to the Oregonian in which he says all he wants from Takei is an apology.

Judging by reactions on Twitter and other social media over the weekend, the Takei sexual misconduct allegations appeared to hit fans and others pretty hard. The allegations appeared to be more difficult to accept than allegations against other favorite entertainment icons, notably Louis C.K.

That could be in part because Takei doesn’t seem to have a reputation for being aggressive or sexually inappropriate, as was the case of some other high-profile men accused of sexual harassment and assault.

He also comes across as kind, humane and thoughtful. As far as the public knows, he hasn’t displayed the controlling, bullying or narcissistic qualities that have been characteristic of other accused men.

The confusion among his fans appeared to grow after Takei posted a tweet, and then deleted it, in which he blamed Russian bots for amplifying the assault allegations through social media, the Daily News reported.

Takei’s Russian bot theory was seized upon as an example of liberal hypocrisy by people whose profiles suggest they have pro-Trump, pro-conservative leanings.

George Takei blames "Russian bots" for "amplifying" sexual assault allegations. I didn't realize ex Star Trek actors posed such a YUGE threat to Russia. 😏 #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/WjJcTD9IaS — No One 🇺🇸 (@tweettruth2me) November 13, 2017

BAHAHAHAHAHA!!! No, U r a perverted scumbag. We have known all along #CreepyBastard

George Takei thinks Russian bots spread sexual assault accusation https://t.co/LqpdhPcikV — TX Conservatarian (@MTWTwoPoint0) November 13, 2017

Over the weekend, conservative Twitter users were also denouncing Takei for daring to allege that Trump was a sexual predator or for criticizing Moore for his anti-LGBTQ views.

Why should we believe you and not believe Moore??? You and the rest of the liberal wackos sure don’t waste a second to jump to conclusions and judge others!! You’re a hypocrite! — Proud Deplorable (@DoogieNM) November 13, 2017

Even some self-described liberals agreed that Takei shouldn’t be given the benefit of a doubt if that’s not granted to Moore, especially when the national conversation around sexual misconduct has shifted to believing victims.

People inclined to support Takei also were thrown off by a resurfaced interview with Takei on the Howard Stern show in October, in which he laughingly admitted he has groped men to “persuade” them to have sex, according to the online magazine LGBTQ Nation.

I really want to believe you but your Howard Stern interview was very disturbing. I can’t be hypocritical and hold you to a different standard because I’ve been a fan & agree with you politically. — Anna (@annanotherthng) November 13, 2017

Stern noted the irony in Harvey Weinstein facing repercussions for his alleged behavior, while Trump, our sitting president, has bragged about grabbing women’s genitals without consent.

It’s at that point that Stern asked Takei if he never hassled anybody for sex, or grabbed their genitals.

“Uhh…” Takei replied, after a long pause.

“Well, they were different times,” Stern continued. “[But] you never sexually harassed anyone. Have you?”

Takei again hesitated, before saying, “Well, it’s some people that are kind of, um, skittish, or maybe afraid, and you’re trying to persuade.”

“Do we need to call the police?” Stern asked.

“What is he saying, Howard?” asked Quivers. “But you didn’t do this grabbing at work?”

“Oh no, no, it wasn’t at work,” Takei assured. “It was … in my home, they came to my home.”

Stern pressed Takei on whether he was describing a situation in which a man was hesitating to have sex with him and then he gently touched him.

“More than a gentle,” Takei said, laughing. He added that the difference was that what he did “didn’t involve power over the other,” unlike with Trump and Weinstein.

Then again, Takei still has some pretty staunch supporters, people who believe his denial of sexual assault, who are calling out conservatives for being hypocrites, notably by jumping to condemn Takei over a more than 40-year-old incident when they continue to support Trump.