Introduction
Michael Rainey Jr. has spoken out after the incident that took place while on livestream this past Sunday.
The 23-year-old actor rose to fame following his role as Tariq St. Patrick on the popular TV series Power Book 2. He made a guest appearance on the Twitch stream “The Tylil Show,” hosted by Tylil James. Since it aired, a video has circulated online where a young woman enters the left side of the frame and reaches towards Rainey’s groin area. Rainey reacts with an uncomfortable facial expression and then looks around the room before the woman leaves the frame. The actor left the stream shortly after the incident.
Micheal Rainey Jr release a statement in response to the situations
Soon after, he released a statement via Instagram regarding the situation:
“At this point, everyone has seen the video circulating online,” he said. “I am still in shock and don’t know how to fully process what happened last night. This is an unfortunate situation that I can’t condone in any way. I can’t take it lightly because I know I would be in serious trouble if the roles were reversed.
“The fact is, sexual assault is never okay, regardless of gender or status,” the actor continued. “We’re all human, and we should respect each other. Most importantly, we should always respect ourselves.”
The actor then went on to share a statement with People, where he stated: “Sexual harassment and assault are serious and unacceptable acts. Taking advantage of someone’s celebrity in this manner devalues entertainers and underscores the need to respect their humanity. Those who entertain us are human beings just like everyone else.”
Social media reacts to the incident
The incident has sparked a reaction on social media, with users sharing their thoughts across the platforms. James’s Instagram comments were filled with users expressing their disgust towards the incident:
Vivian5690 commented: “Your sister sexually assaulted someone, and kids were in the room. She needs to be charged and you canceled!!”
Tori_Lanette also commented: “What’s even more disappointing is when the dude in the back saw it and tried to tell you what your sister was doing to him, you didn’t stop her or help him since you were in your own world taking those kids’ ears off. So sad, pay attention to your surroundings and listen to your friends when they’re trying to talk to you. It’s the little things!”
Tylil takes to social media to share his thoughts
Soon after, Tylil took to social media to share his thoughts regarding the situation. There, he issued an apology to Rainey for the behavior of the woman in the video.
“After the actions that occurred during my stream last night, I would like to sincerely apologize to Michael and his family for what took place. My little sister was completely wrong and out of line,” he said. “What she did was very inappropriate and unacceptable. I am truly embarrassed and disgusted by her actions.”
Tylil James, host of the Tyler Show twitch stream.
The streamer said he supports however Rainey opts to respond to the incident.
“I completely respect whatever direction Michael wants to go in this situation,” he said. “I will take extreme precautions with future streams to avoid similar issues and have banned her from participating in future streams. I do not condone any type of assault.”
Standing up against sexual abuse
This is just another reminder that sexual abuse is very prevalent in society and isn’t just limited to one gender. It happens to both men and women, and in both instances, it should be taken more seriously. As a society, we need to do better to ensure that we are challenging such stereotypes.
We also need to make a more conscious effort to respect people’s boundaries. We must maintain consent and mutual respect to ensure that we live in a society where everyone is safe and valued. Therefore, personal limits must be honored, and verbal/non-verbal cues should always be taken into consideration.
Additionally, we must stay committed to ensuring that sexual violence is a topic that constantly raises awareness. As a community, we must do more to educate one another about the realities of sexual violence and the importance of respect and consent. Awareness campaigns not only challenge such violence but also foster a culture of vigilance and empathy where victims feel safe enough to come forward and feel supported during their healing journeys. Increased awareness allows togetherness in the community, where people are informed and victims feel guarded. The #MeToo social movement and awareness campaign do this perfectly, fighting against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture, in which people publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment.
To get more support, click the link: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault
Conclusion
It should never be accepted as the norm. Accepting such behavior can never be condoned; rather, we must do more to hold perpetrators accountable.
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