Ellen DeGeneres is one of the biggest superstars in the world. The stand-up comedienne turned talk show host is one of the most coveted celebrities online and offline and her fan following is proof of that. While Ellen continues to make people around the world laugh on a daily basis, she has not always led such a cheerful life. In David Letterman‘s new talk show on Netflix called My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, Ellen opened up in detail about how she was sexually abused by her stepfather. While this is not the first time that she has opened up about the incident, she said she was doing so in detail because she doesn’t want any girl to feel like they shouldn’t be talking about it. The assault she said, started after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Detailing the horrific incident she said:
He told me when my mom was out of town that he’d felt a lump in her breast and needed to feel my breasts. Anyway, he convinced me that he needs to feel my breasts and then he tries to do it again another time, and then another time.
She further added:
I’m angry at myself because, you know, I didn’t, I was too weak to stand up to him, I was 15 or 16. It’s a really horrible, horrible story and the only reason I’m actually going to go into detail about it is that I want other girls to not ever let someone do that.
Ellen also said the moment she disclosed the abuse to her mother she refused to believe her and stayed with her stepfather for another 18 years before she realized Ellen was right.
I should never have protected my mother. I should have protected myself and I didn’t tell her for a few years, and then I told her. And then she didn’t believe me, and then she stayed with him for 18 more years and finally left him because he’d changed the story so many times.
Talking to CNN about this dark phase, she said she was furious at people who don’t believe girls when they share their stories and ask for the exact details of such incidents. She seemed extremely emotional speaking about the incident and also revealed that all you remember is what happened to you and where you were and how you feel.
It is truly heartbreaking to hear this story from Ellen. But as fans, we feel equally proud to see her today as she continues to inspire and spread happiness to millions of people around the world.