Chicago woman who accused Neil deGrasse Tyson of sexual assault shares her story

[oberliner]

Some consider him to be the most famous scientist in the world. But now, Neil deGrasse Tyson is facing more accusations of sexual misconduct.

One of the accusers is from Chicago and shared her story with WGN’s Gaynor Hall.

Tchiya Amet El Maat said it was 1984. She was 23 and wanted to become an astronaut. She and Tyson were grad students in astrophysics at the University of Texas at Austin. One day after class, she says she went to his apartment.

“He asked me if I wanted a glass of water and I was like sure. And then I woke up naked on his bed,” she said, “I didn't know what had happened, what was happening and I couldn't move.”

She said he raped her.

https://wgntv.com/2018/12/06/chicago-woman-who-accused-neil-degrasse-tyson-of-sexual-assault-shares-her-story/

Video included at link with interview excerpts from the woman in question.

[Cartoonist]

1. Rhetorical question

Suppose someone accused you of the same thing. How would you defend yourself?

[oberliner]

22. That is a profound question to consider

[Cartoonist]

33. Here is a dream I had

It speaks to that feeling of finding yourself helpless against an accusation.

I had dinner at a friend's house. After saying good night to him and his wife, I walked down his driveway and noticed a shiny object on the lawn. It was a knife. I picked it up and put it on a light fixture.

The next morning the police were knocking on my door. I was accused of murdering my friend's wife. My fingerprints were on the murder weapon, and his neighbor positively identified me as seeing me walking down the driveway.

Fortunately, I woke up, but ever since I get queasy remembering how hopeless I felt at my predicament.

[oberliner]

38. That is pretty heavy

Being falsely accused of murdering someone would be awful - especially under the circumstances you describe in your dream, where there would potentially be some evidence connecting you to the crime (even though you didn't do it).

Also awful would be committing murder and getting away with it because people think you are a great guy and would never do anything like that due to being famous and well-liked in your field and there not being any credible-seeming witnesses or conclusive proof.

[Ferrets are Cool]

41. Almost impossible to have a rock solid alibi from that long ago.

I am not sure I could defend myself if accused of rape from 1984. I barely remember what I did last week, although I know it wasn't raping someone.

[nolabear]

2. It pains me to say it, but I don't believe her.

I’ve read several accounts of this and she may have told herself a story about something that happened differently, or...I don’t know. And I am very much in favor of carefully listening to people who make these claims. But her accounts are odd and she seems very troubled. It’s possible a trauma caused her to dissemble the way she has over the course of her life but it’s also possible the dissembly began before whatever encounter/relationship they did have. I won’t say she’s lying but I do think there’s something more here.

[oberliner]

23. That is a reasonable position

She definitely does seem very troubled.

[secondwind]

43. Rape IS trauma... trauma of the worst kind.

[nolabear]

65. I absolutely agree.

[MineralMan]

3. Why so much interest in that person? I have no idea whether

he did any of those things. If he did, then he deserves whatever comes to him from his actions. If he did not, then I hope he is able to defend himself. But, why are their two threads today about this?

Why is this news of particular interest to you? I mean, I know who he is, but I'm not sure why it's particularly important news, except to him and those claiming to be his victims.

Can you explain?

[RhodeIslandOne]

4. The poster gets a kick out of this

[MineralMan]

5. I suppose it has something to do with his atheism.

He makes shreds of things like creationism in public, so he's not liked by some folks. These accusations, whether true or not, give some people ammunition against the man. By association, I guess they think it will also defeat the information he presents. It won't, of course, but bringing him down will slow down its presentation, I suppose.

I just find it interesting that someone who is completely unknown to over 90% of the population is getting so much attention here on DU.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Racism, added to your comment, by all means. Always. n/t

[MineralMan]

10. That's right. He's a black man, isn't he?

Well, there's a fertile combination, I suppose. A black atheist man. The perfect target for some. Triple whammy.

Boring.

[guillaumeb]

53. Are you calling the accusers liars?

Interesting.

[MineralMan]

58. Nope. I have no idea. Do you?

[guillaumeb]

60. No, and I do not assume motivation or intent on the part of the accusers.

The Metoo Movement has showed us the extent of the problem. It is a societal problem.

[MineralMan]

63. Nor do I. I am commenting on the postings.

Please read more carefully. Thanks.

[melman]

62. You said he's being targeted

[MineralMan]

66. He is being targeted. By people who

wish him ill. My comments are not about the accusers. Do you know who is correct?

[melman]

68. No I don't

But you are absolutely being dismissive of the accusers.

[MineralMan]

71. No. I am not.

I await more information.

[melman]

72. Yeah you actually are

Your words are here for anyone to see.

[oberliner]

25. Racism could account for why this woman's accusations have been ignored and/or dismissed

She initially told this story to reporters several years ago but has only gotten attention now because other white people have brought forward accusations of inappropriate behavior against NDT.

I think racism often plays a role in these circumstances.

Unfortunately, women of color seem to have a harder time being believed for some reason.

[MineralMan]

50. Or the opposite.

Your tranparency is showing.

[oberliner]

55. 4th Woman Accuses Neil DeGrasse Tyson Of Sexual Misconduct (Essence Magazine)

Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is facing yet another accusation of sexual misconduct, even after previously coming out and attempting to defend himself from three prior accusations.

The fourth accuser says that Tyson approached her while drunk at a holiday party in January 2010 at the American Museum of Natural History and began making sexual comments and jokes, according to Buzzfeed. Tyson eventually tried to get her to go with him into his office, she claimed.

“We take his word at face value,” the unidentified accuser said. “I think he’s exploiting that relationship to get people to believe him.”

The woman shared her experience with two friends shortly after it happened. Those friends confirmed that the woman shared the story with them. The woman also wrote about the incident to her employer in 2014, when her employer was considering tapping Tyson for a speaking engagement.

https://www.essence.com/news/4th-woman-accuses-neil-degrasse-tyson-of-sexual-misconduct/

Are you familiar with Essence Magazine?

[MineralMan]

59. Yes, and?

Are those accusations true. Do they constitute sexual assault?

[oberliner]

73. The story is being widely covered

Only one of the accusations would constitute sexual assault, if true.

The notion that covering this story could somehow be viewed as racist is unfounded in my view. It seemed like that's what you were implying, but I may have misunderstood.

[MineralMan]

75. Ok. Then we will lean more, I assume.

[guillaumeb]

57. Are the women acting in bad faith?

That should be part of the question.

[MineralMan]

61. I have no idea. Do you?

[BannonsLiver]

16. Only when it's progressives over the barrel.

When it’s a con there’s not a peep.

[Kingofalldems]

21. Every day too.

Except yesterday for some odd reason.

[oberliner]

26. That is not true

It is dispiriting to see some of these responses.

[MineralMan]

69. Yes. So you say, naturally.

[oberliner]

74. Thank you

I appreciate that comment.

[whathehell]

82. No, it's not true..

:and the apparent push for a "double standard" here IS very disappointing.

[TheBlackAdder]

7. NDT's a guy who takes pot shots at conservative idiocy. Draging down another left-leaning guy?

[MineralMan]

8. That's true, too.

Now, I think those accusations should be investigated, as best they can be. If he did what he's accused of, then I condemn his behavior. But, right now, they're just accusations.

It's interesting enough, I suppose, if you follow Tyson's activities. But, I'm not sure it requires two threads in GD at this point.

Maybe there's a political angle to it, though. I don't really know the man's politics.

[TheBlackAdder]

11. I didn't have to guess whose OP this was, especially when this second one hit the queue.

.

The allegations should be investigated.

There are just certain posters who don't seem to lean very Democratic and enjoy stirring the pot, relishing in the adversities faced by liberal supporters. There is never just one OP, but a slew of them over the span of hours or days. There will probably be more.

.

[MineralMan]

12. I know. Two threads in one day about accusations against

a black, liberal, male scientist who is either an agnostic or atheist. I'm never sure on the last one. Now, his name is recognizable to some people, but not to most. So, I wonder why he deserves two breathless threads in one day about some unsubstantiated accusations.

"Whose posts those are I think I know," to misquote a famous poet.

[EffieBlack]

32. And here, I thought it was just me

But apparently I'm not the only one who sees right through my boo.

[MineralMan]

35. Perhaps your sight is the clearest, though.

[Hav]

40. Noticed it first in regards to Franken

and that pattern was reaffirmed countless times since. That's all I'm gonna say.

[oberliner]

27. It's easy to jump on the right-wingers when they are accused of awful things

I think it is important for liberals to hold those on the left to the same standard.

[TheBlackAdder]

30. Most go through life, lost and unengaged. It's nice when people find their calling.

[oberliner]

45. Agreed

It is important to stand up for the things you believe in, as I think most DUers would agree. What makes this board so special is how engaged we are in the issues that are important to us.

[whathehell]

77. Exactly -- We can hardly adopt a double.stamdard -- one

for Progressives, another for Conservatives.
That would be a betrayal all of our principles, making us look like huge hypocrites. I do wonder sometimes, how thoroughly people here things through.

[guillaumeb]

54. Did he do what he was accused of?

That should be the question.

[MineralMan]

67. I don't know. Do you?

[whathehell]

83. There was a time

here when it would have been the only question.

[whathehell]

64. So we should adopt a double standard in his case?

Only conservatives should be held accountable?

[guillaumeb]

70. Indeed. eom

[Jake Stern]

81. If NdGT were a right winger

DUers would have immediately pronounced the accusers credible and the claims to be the gospel truth. But because he's a left leaning celeb the claims are all bogus and the women are troubled/mistaken/lying.

[whathehell]

84. Yes, and that's a worrisome development

Objectivity seems to be taking a hit here.

[oberliner]

24. He is a pretty prominent figure

This is a very serious accusation.

The other accusation, which was much much less serious, seemed credible.

In the current era, I think it is especially important to amplify the voices of those who accuse powerful men. In the past, they have tended to get silenced.

[MineralMan]

37. I see...

So you're only interested in the truth...

I see...

[oberliner]

44. Exactly

Thank you for that.

[MineralMan]

47. Irony is a funny thing...

[MineralMan]

6. Say...I heard somewhere he's an atheist, too. Is that true?

[oberliner]

20. No, he's not

Where did you hear that?

[John Fante]

13. OP relishes in bringing down those associated with the

left. Whether the allegations have merit is irrelevant.

[MineralMan]

14. Well, if that's true, it's a damned shame.

[oberliner]

18. That is not true

With respect to accusations like these, I think it is important to apply consistent standards to everyone, regardless of what their political views are. That does not always seem to be the case, regrettably.

[MineralMan]

48. Two threads?

In one day? Really..

[BannonsLiver]

51. Stay tuned

There will be a third later about how we’re all a bunch of hypocritical troglodytes for not taking everything she said at face value.

[MineralMan]

52. Well, I sure hope not.

Perhaps the blowback will generate some caution.

[uppityperson]

15. You don't mention that his account of this is there also. How odd.

[oberliner]

17. The title of the OP is the title of the article at the link

I would encourage everyone who is interested to read it in its entirety, including NDT's statement which is included there.

[uppityperson]

29. And none of the 5 paragraphs you chose to post says any of that. Odd.

[oberliner]

46. It's the first five paragraphs of the article

[uppityperson]

80. And it breaks the DU copyright rule

Respect copyrights
Excerpts from copyrighted sources must be no more than four paragraphs and include a link to the source. See our DMCA Copyright Policy for more information. https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=copyright

[ucrdem]

19. 1984 was 35 years ago.

Even if true he can't be prosecuted. So why are all these stories coming out now?

[oberliner]

28. This story seems to have gotten attention because of other more recent accusations

The more recent accusations have been much much less serious but they seem to have encouraged a re-examination of this older accusation.

[ucrdem]

31. The more recent being the handshake

which supposedly led an assistant to quit her job without notice days before it wrapped up and complain loudly after receiving an apology? Something doesn't smell right and to be honest the recycled Cosby claim makes me wonder about that glorious take-down which this is starting to resemble.

[oberliner]

34. That's not really fair

Calling it "the handshake" seems pretty dismissive of the totality of the complaint by the woman who identified the incident as sexual harassment (and more than just a handshake).

[melman]

42. Wait

You're saying this makes you doubt Cosby's accusers? How does that work?

[pintobean]

36. I've recently heard that about someone else.

I wish I could remember who.

[ucrdem]

39. yeah same here

Very big wheel too as I recall. But who, but who??

[pintobean]

78. This kind of wheel?

[rickford66]

49. But, does he really like beer ?

I heard that was a good defense.

[oberliner]

56. He likes wine and cheese apparently

[BannonsLiver]

76. LOCK HIM UP!1!1

Wine and cheese.

[lindysalsagal]

79. Grad students, 30+ years ago, and no known history of forcing himself on women now

I'd say in this instance, I'd need a whole lot more than her story to believe it.