Aziz Ansari praised for addressing sexual misconduct claims on stage: 'Men, this is how you do it'

The comedian is being hailed for bringing up the allegations in a 'thoughtful' manner

Aziz Ansari is being praised for reflecting on accusations of sexual misconduct against him during a stand-up set in New York City.

The comedian performed on Monday in front of about 200 people at the Village Underground where he addressed allegations in an article that charted “the worst night” of the accuser’s life.

Vulture reports that, during his set, Ansari said he took time to process the allegations against him, which is partly why he hasn’t fully addressed them until now. He said it was “a terrifying thing to talk about”, adding: “There were times I felt really upset and humiliated and embarrassed, and ultimately I just felt terrible this person felt this way.

“But you know, after a year, how I feel about it is, I hope it was a step forward. It made me think about a lot, and I hope I’ve become a better person.”

In a story published by the website Babe.net, a woman known only as Grace described her discomfort during her encounter with Ansari, saying the comedian had “ignored clear non-verbal cues” and “kept going with advances”.

Ansari has largely kept out of the spotlight ever since. At the time, the Master of None writer and star said: ”It was true that everything did seem okay to me, so when I heard that it was not the case for her, I was surprised and concerned.”

The comedian is being praised on Twitter for his willingness to address the allegations in a “thoughtful” manner.

One user said she wishes “more men would do the same,” while another said: “There’s something really encouraging about the way Aziz Ansari took time to reflect on the accusations of sexual misconduct – listening to the discourse, chatting with his female friends, staying quiet whilst he learnt.”

The comedian expressed the hope that the accusations will cause others to think more about consent.

“If that has made not just me but other guys think about this, and just be more thoughtful and aware and willing to go that extra mile, and make sure someone else is comfortable in that moment, that’s a good thing,” he said.