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Overview

Justin Roiland Domestic Violence Charges refers to producer and voice actor Justin Roiland being charged with felony domestic violence in January 2023 in connection to a 2020 incident involving him and an unnamed party he was dating at the time. The news became a major topic of discussion on Twitter, spawning memes and jokes referencing Roiland's animated comedy Rick and Morty. In the following days, grooming allegations against Roiland also spread online as several social media users accusing him.

In March 2023, charges against Justin Roiland were dropped.

Background

On January 12th, 2023, NBC News published an exclusive article about Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland facing felony domestic violence charges.[1] The charges are connected to a January 2020 incident involving Roiland and a woman whose name has not been disclosed, who he was dating at the time. A criminal complaint against Roiland, which charges him with one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment, was filed in May 2020, with Roiland being arrested and released on a $50,000 bond in August 2020. The producer pleaded not guilty to both charges and was arraigned in October 2022.

Also on January 12th, 2023, NBC News tweeted[2] a link to the article, with the tweet gaining over 900 retweets and 3,300 likes in one day (shown below). Later that day, other Twitter users and accounts, including @Phil_Lewis_ and @DiscussingFilm, also tweeted[3][4] the article.

NBC News NEWS @NBCNews NEW: Justin Roiland, the star and co-creator of "Rick and Morty," has been charged with felony domestic violence in connection with a 2020 incident, according to a criminal complaint. nbcnews.com 'Rick and Morty' co-creator Justin Roiland faces domestic violence charges Roiland was charged with domestic battery and false imprisonment in May 2020 after an incident with a woman he was dating, according to a criminal ... ... 2:46 PM Jan 12, 2023 1.5M Views

Developments

Grooming Allegations

On January 13th, 2023, as news spread of his domestic violence charges, grooming allegations began coming out against Justin Roiland online with several conversations being posted, purportedly of him messaging various women and some allegedly being underage.[7]

According to tweets and other posts on social media, many alleged that DMs purportedly sent by Roiland show him attempting to engage in grooming or steering conversations toward sexual intercourse. For example, on January 13th, Twitter[8] user AllieGoertz tweeted a series of DMs Roiland allegedly sent her, receiving over 5.2 million views and 24,000 likes in roughly two weeks (shown below).

Over the following days, several other Twitter users also shared alleged messages from Roiland as the grooming accusations became a prominent topic online (examples shown below).

Adult Swim Cuts Ties

On January 24th, 2023, Adult Swim made a post to Instagram and the @RickandMorty Twitter page announced that they would be cutting ties with Justin Roiland but continuing to produce Rick and Morty (shown below).

Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland Rick and Morty will continue The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on Season 7

Charges Dropped

On March 22nd, 2023, Justin Roiland tweeted[9] that the domestic violence charges against him were dropped (tweet shown below). In the post, he wrote that he was "determined to move forward and focus both on his creative projects and restoring his good name."

justice Justin Roiland @JustinRoiland I have always known that these claims were false - and I never had any doubt that this day would come. I'm thankful that this case has been dismissed but, at the same time, I'm still deeply shaken by the horrible lies that were reported about me during this process. Most of all, I'm disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts, based solely on the word of an embittered ex trying to bypass due process and have me "canceled." That it may have succeeded, even partially, is shameful. However, now that the legal case has ended, I'm determined to move forward and focus both on my creative projects and restoring my good name. 3:52 PM Mar 22, 2023 1.7M Views ...

Online Reactions

Immediately following the news, viral discussions and memes about it started appearing online, primarily on Twitter. For example, on January 12th, 2023, Twitter[5] user @arthandle tweeted a Shocked Black Guy meme that received 180 retweets and over 4,000 likes in one day (shown below, left). Also that day, voice actor @VoicesByZane posted a tweet[6] imagining Justin Roiland speaking in Morty's voice while being shoved into a patrol car. The tweet received over 2,300 retweets and 19,900 likes in one day (shown below, right).

[ah] Arthandle @arthandle Replying to @NBCNews Justin Roiland when domestic battery doesn't reset at the end of the episode 3:35 PM Jan 12, 2023 · 116K Views :
Zane Schacht - Voice Goblin @VoicesByZane Justin roiland getting shoved into a patrol car like "What y-y-you gonna send me to jail? Huh? You gonna send me to, uh, bad guy jail? For bad guys? Y-y'know, wow, I'm such a bad guy here! Just a real f----- mean one! Y-yeah I know I have the right to remain silent! B- bitch!" 4 Discussing Film @DiscussingFilm - 14h Justin Roiland has been charged with one count of domestic battery with corporal injury & one count of false imprisonment by menace/violence/fraud/deceit. (Source: nbcnews.com/tech/internet/...) 4:14 PM Jan 12, 2023 578.4K Views

The news remained a viral subject of memes on Twitter throughout the following day.

Rick and Morty Voice Recasting

Rick and Morty Voice Recasting refers to a series of social media posts about the expected voice actor change for season seven of the animated series Rick and Morty, which followed the announcement that Justin Roiland (the voice actor of both titular characters) was removed from the show after his domestic violence scandal and grooming allegations were raised against him in January 2023. Online, users reacted to the news by suggesting new actors for the role and submitting their own impressions, as well as posting memes and other jokes or parodies.

DiscussingFilm @Discussing Film The voice roles of Rick & Morty will be recast for future seasons of 'RICK & MORTY'. Dan Harmon will now be the sole creator. The show will continue until at least Season 10. 5:29 PM Jan 24, 2023 3.7M Views

Various Examples

NEW: Justin Roiland, the star and co-creator of "Rick and Morty," has been charged with felony domestic violence in connection with a 2020 incident, according to a criminal complaint. 8 Not even my Crazy Diamond is able to fix this ≈
✔ clay @_claypot i think dan harmon and justin roiland are just in a competition for who can be the worst co- creator of rick and morty philip lewis @Phil_Lewis_ 15h Justin Roiland, the star and co-creator of "Rick and Morty," has been charged with felony domestic violence nbcnews.com/tech/internet/... 5:37 PM Jan 12, 2023 266.6K Views
Unorthodox Individual @Le_Unorthodox Justin Roiland doing the f------ Rick and Morty voices in court: "Ah geez man, like I plead not guilty and stuff, this is just like that show, y'know the one about lawyers." 4

EmpLemon FEM @EmperorLemon Rick and Morty bros... It is so over. 5:38 PM Jan 12, 2023 236.2K Views . SOS
Kris P. Bacon @KrisWolfheart aw geeze rick I beat my wife now I'm gonna be arrested oh man I'm getting put into the s-squad car use your dimension gun w-we gotta get to a dimension where I didn't commit domestic abuse oh geeze 4:16 PM Jan 12, 2023 187.9K Views
Le Ruse Bird @LeRuseBird Justin Roiland when he confronted the police I turned myself in K 6:01 PM Jan 12, 2023 16.7K Views ⠀

Search Interest

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