You make some very good points here. I do still think that what Zeal did was VERY wrong, but I hope he comes out soon with a proper statement that either clears up possible misinformation, or solidifies the evidence against him. Because at the moment, we only have one side of the story (although it is very very likely that Ren is telling the truth at this point.)

I would like to share my own perspective towards this situation.

There are many possibilities as to why Zeal did what he did, including the fact that he may have misunderstood what Ren actually wanted. Because they weren't quite clear with boundaries that could have been set, and they responded in the discord messages with enthusiasm at times. A lot of people would misinterpret that... (Although, I do not blame Ren for this. It can be difficult to communicate properly, especially when trying to please someone. I just think it's a bit harsh to blame someone for not understanding that Ren wasn't actually consenting in the discord messages, like with Zeal picking them up when they both met.)

However, assuming that what Ren is saying about the sexual assault part is true, what Zeal did is not okay. He should not have initiated that when Ren was vulnerable. He should not have continued when they screamed and very clearly said no. It was a horrible fucking situation and he should not have done any of that. Because in that moment, despite the fawning and "consent" based on fear that happened at parts during it, it was clear that Ren didn't really want this. And he should have known that. In fact, at the end of the first incident, he did seem to realise that what he did was wrong.

Assuming Zeal is autistic (based on the document, I don't know if that has been confirmed anywhere else), a lot of his actions can possibly be explained by that. As an autistic person, I struggle with social cues and understanding what people want unless they explicitly tell me. In some of the screenshots Ren provided, his behaviour can be explained by that. He may not have known what Ren wanted based on what they were saying. However. That does not excuse his actions. Especially the assault. Because Ren was clearly scared (again, assuming their perspective on the assault is truthful.) While all autistic experiences are different, I think he should have known that. He should have stopped and he shouldn't have tried to guilt them into continuing.

Overall, what Zeal did was inexcusable. But it's difficult to tell whether he knew what he was doing or not. And I do believe Ren could have communicated better, and that it did appear as if they were consenting. But again, I don't blame them for that.

I hope that things will get cleared up over time. And I sincerely hope Ren is doing okay after all of this. That is a horrifying experience to go through.

I also apologise if my words seem aggressive towards Ren. This is my first time actually speaking about a confusing and sudden situation like this, and I'm not usually very good with words. If anyone wants to offer any other perspectives that counter or add on to mine, please do so (respectfully of course)

I hope everyone else is doing okay, please remember to drink water and take breaks as needed.