The world famous astrophysicist released a lengthy statement on his Facebook page.
It was recently reported that Neil deGrasse Tyson was being investigated for sexual misconduct.
The producers of the American television series Cosmos have opened an investigation into a number of sexual misconduct claims made by two women.
Tyson has since responded to the claims, in a Facebook post entitled: "On Being Accused".
He wrote: "For a variety of reasons, most justified, some unjustified, men accused of sexual impropriety in today’s “me-too” climate are presumed to be guilty by the court of public opinion. Emotions bypass due-process, people choose sides, and the social media wars begin.
"In any claim, evidence matters. Evidence always matters. But what happens when it’s just one person’s word against another’s, and the stories don’t agree? That’s when people tend to pass judgment on who is more credible than whom. And that’s when an impartial investigation can best serve the truth – and would have my full cooperation to do so.
"I’ve recently been publically accused of sexual misconduct. These accusations have received a fair amount of press in the past forty-eight hours, unaccompanied by my reactions.
"In many cases, it’s not the media’s fault. I declined comment on the grounds that serious accusations should not be adjudicated in the press. But clearly I cannot continue to stay silent. So below I offer my account of each accusation."
He then went on to give his account of what happened during the incidents, in great detail.
He ended the statement with: "Accusations can damage a reputation and a marriage. Sometimes irreversibly. I see myself as loving husband and as a public servant – a scientist and educator who serves at the will of the public. I am grateful for the support I’ve received from those who continue to respect and value me and my work."
You can read his statement in full
here.
