Rick and Morty is one of the most popular adult animated sci-fi shows. Still riding high into popularity, the show’s co-creator, Justin Roiland was fired for alleged domestic battery, violence, and fraud among other allegations. Even after clearing all domestic allegation charges, Roiland was recently accused of alleged s*xual abuse and similar acts in a recent report published by NBC.
In the midst of all this, his co-creator Dan Harmon recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about the show and how the recent allegations against his Rick and Morty co-creator have affected him.
Dan Harmon Opens About Justin Roiland’s Alleged Misconduct
For Dan Harmon, his popular show Ricky and Morty has been a big deal for it was one of the first projects that he undertook after going through a terrible period of time. As the show grew, it turned into one of the most popular animated sitcoms. However, not everything was well between him and co-creator Justin Roiland.
The last time they spoke was in 2019, and soon in 2020, Roiland was in court defending a series of domestic allegations. He was later cleared and Harmon chose to remain silent over the issue. But when just a few weeks earlier NBC published a report about Roiland’s alleged s*xual abuse and harassment misconduct, which prompted Dan Harmon to feel he should finally speak up. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he stated,
“The easiest thing for me to say about Justin has been nothing. Easy because he isolated so well and easy because I’m nobody’s first choice as a judge of anything or anyone. This is where I’d love to change the subject to myself, to what a piece of crap I’ve been my whole public life.”
While Harmon regrets not speaking up before, he expresses how heartbroken he is over the whole affair.
Dan Harmon Is Ashamed And Heartbroken
Dan Harmon went through tumults of emotions as he read NBC’s recent report on Justin Roiland’s alleged crimes. He revealed how his obsession with the cartoon over people’s safety and his co-creator’s alleged abuse of power to target strangers has been a source of major pain for him just as he stated in his talk with The Hollywood Reporter.
“I would feel so safe and comfortable making this about me, but that trick is worthless here and dangerous to others. It’s other people’s safety and comfort that got damaged while I obsessed over a cartoon’s quality. Trust has now been violated between countless people and a show designed to please them. I’m frustrated, ashamed and heartbroken that a lot of hard work, joy and passion can be leveraged to exploit and harm strangers.”
Despite everything, the show seems to be faring well and is all geared up for its seventh season, after having cast replacements for Justin Roiland.
Rick and Morty season 7 will premiere on October 17, 2023, on Adult Swim.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter and NBC
