Roosh Valizadeh Accused of Rape*

Roosh Valizadeh is one of the world’s most infamous misogynists. If you haven’t heard of him, you can read about him in his own disgusting words on his blog or look at the descriptions in one of his Bang Guides which give advice about how to easily bed women—advice that dangerously flirts with outright descriptions of date rape.

Roosh canceled in-person meetings with his male supporters (a group he calls The Return of Kings) last week due to protests from feminist groups and outrage generated by media coverage. Valizadeh then held a press conference in DC last Thursday to accuse the media of stirring up a mob against him. “I’m the most hated man in the world,” he told the press, adding that this hatred is the direct result of media-borne lies that accuse him of advocating rape.

During the conference he said smugly, “I have never been accused of rape.” Well, Roosh, that changes today.

He went on to say, “Not a single woman has been hurt,” because of what he’s written. “Just because it’s there [referring to his self-described ‘macho sex writing’] doesn’t mean there’s a victim out there and that she suffered. Have I raped anyone? No.” He said, “You would think that one girl would have come forward by now and say, 'Roosh did it. He raped me. Not one has come forward. Not one.’ ”

Now she has.

One of Roosh’s victims read my blog back in November and reached out to me, asking for my help in exposing him. She finally agreed to be interviewed after seeing how he continues to spout his poisonous, misogynist rhetoric with sickening bravado. I hope her courage will inspire other possible Roosh victims to come forward as well.

For her safety, I will protect the victim’s identity. This is the story 'Susan’ shared with me:

Roosh approached Susan in Iceland where he was busy “bagging chicks” for one of his sex travel guides. When Susan left a nightclub with her friends, Roosh, approached her on the street and insisted on walking her home. She asked him to leave her alone. Later, when she became separated from her friends, she noticed he was following her.

“You have a beautiful but sad walk. I know a great place to have a drink. You can join me. It will be fun,” he said.

She refused. Then he insisted on walking her home.

She said, “There’s no need. I don’t need you to walk me home.”

When he continued to insist, she ignored him and continued her way home. He followed. This is a tactic he teaches in his books—to never take “no” for an answer.

When she arrived at her home, Roosh was very charismatic and asked politely if he could just use the toilet. Sleepy and still drunk from her night out, she acquiesced and let him in to use the bathroom.

When he was done in the bathroom he faced Susan and said, “Are you home alone?”

“Yes,” she said.

Then he asked her to touch his penis. When she refused, Roosh grabbed her.

Susan started crying and said, “Why are you doing this? You’re crazy.”

He laughed and overpowered her with force, saying, “All girls like this. It’s every woman’s fantasy. You don’t even know what you’re saying. You’re drunk, but I like drunk girls.” And then, according to Susan, he raped her. She later discovered the Bang Guides Roosh authored and was mortified. Susan went to counseling for the depression that ensued after the alleged rape but never formally accused Valizadeh. He’s an American and she lives in Iceland. She feels she has no recourse.

So what can we do for Susan and the others who have remained silent?

We can encourage all of his possible victims to stand up to him. Roosh is a perpetrator of the worst kind because he hides behind his self-righteousness and is so arrogant he thinks he will never be brought to justice. He thinks his tactics of preying on drunk women, getting them alone, following them, not taking no for an answer and then being forceful with them if necessary is his right as an “aggressive man” who believes, “women should submit to men.” Please, let’s prove him wrong. Please share this post to spread the word and encourage other possible victims to come forward.

If you have been a victim of this man, reach out to law enforcement with jurisdiction in your area. Tell your story, and if he's guilty, let's help bring this man to justice.

(*These are allegations that have not been brought formally, nor has he been found guilty of a crime in court.)

For media coverage of Roosh Valizadeh:

click here for Benjamin Freed's article in The Washingtonian.

click here for Lindy West's article in The Guardian.