It was only a matter of time before something like this happened. A 19-year-old student from the University of Illinois was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting his classmate—and he claims his sadistic actions were inspired by Fifty Shades of Grey.
Mohammad Hossain reportedly brought his female date back to his dorm room on Saturday night and proceeded to re-enact scenes from the wildly successful film. First, he reportedly told the young woman to take off all of her clothes and leave on her underwear and bra. The victim told police she followed his directions, but that what happened next was not consensual.
Hossain allegedly used belts to tie the woman's hands and legs to his bed, covered her face with a knit cap, and stuffed a neck tie into her mouth. She says she screamed and cried and told him to stop, but that instead of listening, he reportedly took off her underwear and bra and began whipping her.
The victim says, at one point, she was able to free her arms, but that he held them behind her back and continued to assault her. Thank goodness his roommate returned home, which was when the victim says she found an opportunity to escape Hossain's dorm room and call police.
The freshman was reportedly arrested later that night at the dorm and is being held on $500,000 bail. Police say he admitted he did something wrong, but said he was inspired by Fifty Shades of Grey.
More from The Stir: Is '50 Shades of Grey' Glorifying Rape?
On paper, Hossain is in no way someone you would associate with a crime like this. He is involved with several university leadership programs, was a student ambassador to the alumni association, and is on the triathlon team.
The victim says she had been intimate with Hossain in the past, but that the two weren't dating and she hadn't consented to the abuse she was forced to endure in the suspect's room.
I have zero patience for people who attempt to shift the burden of responsibility onto someone else or, something I find even more outlandish, onto a movie, TV show, or video game—especially when that person is 19 and should know better. There is NO excuse for not stopping and asking whether a woman is okay when she is screaming, crying, and clearly not enjoying herself.
Do you blame Fifty Shades of Grey for this man's alleged actions?
Image via Chicago Police Department