Current:Home > MarketsMichael Rainey Jr. speaks out after being groped on livestream: 'I am still in shock' -Streamline Finance
Michael Rainey Jr. speaks out after being groped on livestream: 'I am still in shock'
View
Date:2025-04-18 10:43:23
Actor Michael Rainey Jr. is speaking out after a video appeared to show he was sexually assaulted on a livestream.
In an Instagram story on Monday, the "Power" star, 23, said he is "still in shock" and doesn't "fully know how to process what happened last night." The incident occurred on a stream broadcast by Tylil James, who hosts "The Tylil Show" on the live video platform Twitch and has more than 100,000 followers there.
A video that circulated on social media showed Rainey standing in a room full of people during the stream when a woman appears to grab his crotch, making him visibly uncomfortable. The woman's hand is obscured in the footage by two young children.
"This is an unfortunate situation that I do not condone in any way," the actor said. "I can't take it lightly because I know I would be in serious trouble if the roles were reversed."
The alleged assault occurred while other participants in the stream were engaged in conversation, and it did not appear they initially noticed what happened.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
He added, "The fact is, sexual assault is never okay, regardless of gender or status. We're all human, and we should respect each other. Most importantly, we should always respect ourselves."
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Rainey.
Rainey is known for his role as Tariq St. Patrick in the "Power" franchise, including "Power Book II: Ghost." The first part of its final season held its premiere in New York City last week and premiered Friday on Starz.
He has also had roles on "Orange Is the New Black" and in the films "The Butler" and "Barbershop: The Next Cut."
'Power Book II: Ghost'Season 4: Release date, cast, trailer, where to watch new episodes
In an Instagram story, James apologized to Rainey and said the woman who seemingly groped him is his sister. "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."
James pledged to take "extreme precautions with future streams to avoid similar issues" and said he has banned his sister from participating. "I do not condone any type of assault," he wrote.
'Power Book II: Ghost':Mary J. Blige on her role as a 'queenpin' survivor in sequel series
In the comments section of Rainey's most recent Instagram post, some fans urged the actor to take legal action.
"Please press charges on her, because if the roles were reversed you would've been in jail," one comment, which received more than 3,000 likes, read.
Another fan wrote, "Sorry that happened to you Michael, what she did was wrong and i hate that it's taken lightly or as a joke when this happens to men."
James said in his Instagram story that he respects "whatever direction Michael wants to go in this situation."
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800-656-HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
veryGood! (36942)
Related
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- How Stokely Carmichael and the Black Panthers changed the civil rights movement
- Changes to new editions of Roald Dahl books have readers up in arms
- Nick Kroll on rejected characters and getting Mel Brooks to laugh
- Sam Taylor
- Prosecutors file charges against Alec Baldwin in fatal shooting on movie set
- Richard Belzer, stand-up comic and TV detective, dies at 78
- 'Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania' shrinks from its duties
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Bret Easton Ellis' first novel in more than a decade, 'The Shards,' is worth the wait
Ranking
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Musician Steven Van Zandt gifts Jamie Raskin a bandana, wishes him a 'rapid' recovery
- After tragic loss, Marc Maron finds joy amidst grief with 'From Bleak to Dark'
- 'Wait Wait' for Feb. 18, 2023: With Not My Job guest Rosie Perez
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- A rarely revived Lorraine Hansberry play is here — and it's messy but powerful
- What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend listening and viewing
- Psychologist Daniel Levitin dissects Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon'
Recommendation
Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
Reneé Rapp wants to burn out by 30 — and it's all going perfectly to plan
Actress Annie Wersching passes away from cancer at 45
Rescue crews start a new search for actor Julian Sands after recovering another hiker
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Curls and courage with Michaela Angela Davis and Rep. Cori Bush
This is your bear on drugs: Going wild with 'Cocaine Bear'
We break down the 2023 Oscar Nominations