Ansel Elgort is NOT a Pedophile

In 2013, we went to Times Square to see a teen horror film. We noticed that there were a number of upper-middle class looking middle-aged couples on line. They looked like the type of moviegoers we would normally see at the Lincoln Center for films like Lazy Hazy Crazy (2015), The Diary of a Teenage Girl, or Anthony Weiner's documentary Weiner (2016) but not Carrie (2013). And especially not in Times Square where a raucous audience can supplement a moviegoers viewing experience. 

Upon taking our seats, we learned that the middle class looking patrons were friends and family members of Ansel Elgort, the film's co-star, who was sitting three rows in front of us.

As I was perusing this afternoon's trending on Twitter list, I was surprised to see Ansel's name. Ansel was trending, because Gabby accused him of sexually assaulting her "a couple of days" after she turned 17. "And he was in his 20s"

The nymphet admitted that she initiated the contact with Ansel. "I had dmed him on [sic] when it was two days before my 17th birthday and I got his private Snapchat."

But then she opined: "[...] I was just a kid and was a fan of him [...] I WAS SO YOUNG AND HE KNEW THAT [...] I was fucking 17 [...] I was only 17. As well as asked to have a threesome with me and one of my "dance friends" they were as well underage [...]"

Consequently, a number of people tweeted "Ansel Elgort is a pedophile". But that's not true. 

The accuser admitted that she was 17, which is the age-of-consent in New York. (BTW, it's 16 across the Hudson in Jersey.) But even if this encounter took place in LA, where the age-of-consent is 18, Ansel would not be considered a pedophile, because Gabby was postpubertal. 

There’s a difference between the general public term for pedophilia and the technical professional term for pedophilia. The public’s definition is associated with someone who’s sexually attracted to girls under the age of 18; however, the clinical definition of pedophilia is:

1. A sexual preference for pre-pubertal or early pubertal children 
2. For six months or more the person has acted on those urges or suffers from distress as a result of having the urges
3. And the individual must be at least 16-years-old and at least five years older than the subject of desire

Hebephilia is when a man is attracted to adolescents or girls who are approximately between the ages of 12 to 16-years-old. Ephebophilia is the primary sexual interest in mid-to-late adolescents - generally ages between 15 to 19. And nympholepsy [nim-fuh-lep-see ] is a passion aroused in men by beautiful young girls (i.e., postpubertal nymphets). (Oxford).

Thus, if the allegations are true, Ansel could be more accurately referred to as an ephebophile or a general nympholept. But per Matt Ridley's New York Times Notable Book, The Red Queen, and the documentary Are All Men Pedophiles? (2013), all men are nympholepts. 

Lastly but interestingly, a number of (young) women shared on Twitter that Gabby was "lucky" and wished to be in her place. 

Blueberry Shadow posted: "I wish I was her. my baby driver. my ultimate crush, let's do that in the car LMAO [Crying emoji] Ansel Engort dm me"

And E-A Thomas posted: "She's so lucky omg [Heart eyes emoji] (The post got at least 309 Likes)