Here’s How Aziz Ansari Addressed Misconduct Allegations In His New Netflix Special

Comedian Aziz Ansari made his return to the spotlight this week with a new Netflix stand-up special, “Aziz Ansari: Right Now,” after accusations of misconduct were leveled against him in 2018. Many wondered how Ansari would address those issues in his return if he would at all, and now we have the answer.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Jonze, “Right Now” premiered on Netflix on Tuesday and was filmed in a more relaxed and intimate style than most specials. Ansari made the bold decision to address the situation straight away.

“I know this isn’t the most hilarious way to begin a comedy show,” Ansari said, as reported by Variety. “But it’s important to me that you know how I feel about that whole thing before we share this night together.”

Allegations against Ansari came out after the publication of a piece by an anonymous woman on Babe.net, detailing a date she had with the comedian. In it, she explains how as their night went on, Ansari made her feel pressured into going further sexually then she was comfortable going, stating that she felt "violated." While not the typical sort of accusations that have come out following the #MeToo Movement, the story nonetheless struck a chord with many and illustrated the more subtle ways men use their power to coerce women.

For his part, Ansari issued a public apology and said that he believed everything from that night was consensual.

“There’s times I felt scared, there’s times I felt humiliated, there’s times I felt embarrassed, and ultimately, I just felt terrible that this person felt this way,” Ansari said about the fallout of the allegations during his special.

He added, “And after a year or so, I just hope it was a step forward.”