The domestic violence charges filed against Rick & Morty co-creator Justin Roiland have been dropped, IGN has confirmed.
A representative with the Orange Country District Attorney, which originally filed the charges, told IGN that they were dropped today as “we did not have sufficient evidence to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt,” in addition to “additional information that came to light during the investigation.”
“I commend the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for conducting a thorough review of the facts and deciding to dismiss the case against Justin,” Roiland’s attorney, T. Edward Welbourn, told IGN in a statement. “I’m thankful justice has prevailed.”
Roiland also broke his silence today, speaking publicly on Twitter for the first time since the allegations became public.
“I have always known that these claims were false – and I never had any doubt this day would come,” Roiland tweeted.
“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,” he continued, “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.”
justice pic.twitter.com/1q9M4GA6MV
— Justin Roiland (@JustinRoiland) March 22, 2023
The domestic violence charges, which were filed in May of 2020 over an alleged incident in January of that year, first became public early this year. At the time, Roiland had been charged with one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury, and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud, and/or deceit against an anonymous Jane Doe that he had been dating at the time.
Over a dozen hearings had already been held over the charges, and Roiland was next due back in court on April 27.
After the charges came to light, a number of companies cut ties with Roiland, including Adult Swim, where Roiland was co-creator, executive producer, and voice actor on Rick & Morty.
Additionally, Squanch Games, which released Roiland’s High on Life late last year, also revealed in a statement that Roiland had resigned from the company, and Hulu announced that it would no longer work with him on their comedies Solar Opposites and Koala Man.
Still, Roiland had very little creative impact on all the above shows, as reported in a THR article and confirmed by IGN sources. Rick & Morty is still on production on its upcoming seventh season.
Thumbnail credit: Leon Bennett/WireImage
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
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