The 'Ugly Betty' alum joins Alyssa Milano's '#MeToo' social media movement and shares her harrowing story in the process.
- Oct 17, 2017
AceShowbiz - America Ferrera revealed her dark past. The former "Ugly Betty" actress was among thousands of people around the world that shared their stories with sexual harassment and assault in "#MeToo" social media movement started by Alyssa Milano.
"Me too," she wrote on Instagram. "First time I can remember being sexually assaulted I was 9 years old. I told no one and lived with the shame and guilt thinking all along that I, a 9 year old child, was somehow responsible for the actions of a grown man."
"I had to see this man on a daily basis for years to come. He would smile at me and wave, and I would hurry past him, my blood running cold, my guts carrying the burden of what only he and I knew - that he expected me to shut my mouth and smile back."
The actress, now 33 years old, concluded her story with a message to women, "Ladies, let's break the silence so the next generation of girls won't have to live with this bulls**t."
Other celebrities tweeting the "#MeToo" hashtag included the likes of Lady GaGa, Anna Paquin, Debra Messing, Rosario Dawson, Rose McGowan, Evan Rachel Wood, Sophia Bush, Kristin Bauer and Lea Thompson.
Hollywood was shaken by Harvey Weinstein scandal. Ashley Judd, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Beckinsale and Eva Green were among his victims. Meanwhile, many others like James Van Der Beek, Blake Lively, Terry Crews, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lawrence shared their experiences with sexual harassment.
Rumors has it, Weinstein's misconduct was a public secret in Hollywood. A few who dared to speak out loud about it got blacklisted. The disgraced movie mogul has since been fired from his own company. He was also booted from the Academy Award club and suspended from BAFTA, the British equivalent of Oscars.
