In response, many online recalled his legacy, as well as his controversies, including decades-old legal accusations that he once possessed child pornography. For instance, a viral Facebook post claimed, "I just learned today Reubens was charged in 2001 for possessing child pornography (photos of a 17 year old) and pled guilty." At the heart of the 2002-2004 case against Reubens was a debate over what imagery constitutes child pornography or art. However, the city attorney's office told NBC that Reuben's images were much more graphic than he described in that interview. While a debate over the nature of the in-question items remains unresolved, with prosecutors calling them child pornography and Reubens' legal team describing the materials as art, Reubens was never convicted of possessing child pornography.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 03, 2023 18:11 UTC