Teri Hatcher, the well-known actress, bravely opened up about her childhood experience with abuse during a United Nations event held in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
In her speech, she recounted being molested by her uncle at the tender age of seven.
According to Yahoo News, the 49-year-old actress revealed that she believed the abuse was her fault and blamed herself for what had happened.
As a result, she chose to remain silent and did not confide in anyone about the traumatic experience.
However, her behavior began to change, which caught the attention of her mother.
Consequently, Hatcher’s mother decided to keep her away from her uncle.
Although she was no longer in contact with him, her family never questioned the exact details of what had transpired, leading to a prolonged silence on the matter.
Hatcher disclosed that the abuse ceased when she was around eight or nine years old.
However, her uncle Richard Hayes Stone continued to prey on other young girls, tragically resulting in one victim taking her own life.
Learning about the suffering endured by others prompted Hatcher to take action.
She approached a district attorney, ultimately leading to Stone being sentenced to 14 years behind bars.
This is not the first time that the Desperate Housewives star has spoken publicly about her traumatic past.
In 2006, she shared her abuse story, demonstrating her commitment to raising awareness and preventing s**ual abuse.
Just yesterday, Hatcher participated in lighting the Empire State Building in orange, a symbolic gesture to honor the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Since revealing her own harrowing experiences in 2006, Teri Hatcher has been actively involved in advocating for the prevention of violence against women.
Speaking at a United Nations event on Tuesday, which commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Desperate Housewives star candidly recounted being molested by her uncle when she was just seven years old.
Hatcher acknowledged that due to her young age, she struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation.
“I firmly believed that it was my fault and placed blame on myself for what had transpired, resulting in my decision to remain silent,” explained the 49-year-old actress, as reported by Yahoo News.
“However, unsurprisingly, I began acting out, prompting my mother to keep me away from my uncle.
Although he was no longer a part of my life, my family never inquired about the details.
Silence prevailed.”
Nevertheless, Hatcher did not remain silent forever.
In a Vanity Fair feature article published in 2006, she revealed the abuse she suffered at the hands of Richard Hayes Stone, which ceased when she was eight years old.
Upon discovering that other individuals had also fallen victim to her uncle, one of whom tragically took her own life, Hatcher decided to approach the district attorney.
As a result, Stone was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.
“I carry an immense amount of pain,” Hatcher confided to the magazine.
“I am a woman burdened with layers of fear and vulnerability.
While I strive to be strong, I must uncover that resilient part of me buried beneath the layers of self-doubt.
I constantly battle feelings of worthlessness and question whether I will ever achieve anything.”
During her speech, the actress shared vivid memories of the traumatic experiences she endured, recalling even the smallest details such as the color of the carpet in the car, her abuser’s actions, and the requests he made of her.
“I distinctly remember one occasion when we were traveling from his house to pick up other people.
I deliberately manipulated the situation to ensure we would be alone,” Hatcher recalled.
“Deep down, I knew that he would pull over in a deserted parking lot and subject me to his
