Award-winning actress Evan Rachel Wood is defending women who aren’t ready to publicly out their abusers, the New York Daily News reports. The “Westward” star has come forward on her decision after countless women outed Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct spanning decades. Read on below to find out more.
What are your thoughts on Wood's remarks? Sound off in the comments section and tell all!
Survivor. Evan Rachel Wood is a sexual assault survivor herself: she has been raped twice before, though she has never publicly outed her rapists. Recently, the actress shared a video where she addresses the Weinstein allegations and explains the reason why she is afraid to go public with the names of her assailants— and why other women are also afraid to come forward with names.
Names. The actress begins the powerful video by speaking about her assailants. "My perpetrators were very powerful, very rich, very entitled, very narcissistic white men,” she explains.
Names. “I haven't named my abusers for a number of reasons. 1. I'm one person against some very powerful people. 2. Money and time and re-traumatizing yourself,” the 30-year-old says in the video.
Takes a toll. “To go after the person who assaulted you takes quite a toll. It is a terrifying thing to have to go through, mainly because you are at risk of not being believed, your career being hurt, being drained of your finances — because it costs a lot of money to file a lawsuit and go to court with somebody. Especially if all you have is your word against theirs and especially if these are very powerful people,” the mom-of-one continues.
Her experiences. In 2017, Wood spoke to Rolling Stone about her own experiences. "I've been raped. By a significant other while we were together,” she told the magazine "And on a separate occasion, by the owner of a bar.”
Her own experiences. In an email to the publication the day after Donal trump won the election, she wrote: "I am still standing. I am alive. I am happy. I am strong. But I am still not ok."
Her own experiences. "I think it's important for people to know that, for survivors to own that, and that the pressure to just get over it already, should be lifted,” she continued in the email.
Trauma. In the video uploaded on YouTube, Wood explained that it took her seven years to realize she had, in fact, been raped. Seemingly, she decided to get help or the trauma she was unknowingly dealing with.
Trauma. Based on her own harrowing experiences, the actress told viewers that many victims are simply not ready to relive those feelings. Not to mention, they’re also not ready to face their perpetrators.
Silenced. Wood went on to explain that the act could be so traumatizing and shameful that the victim is silenced for years. And in some cases, they’re silenced for their entire life.
Silenced. "Sometimes the act is so traumatizing, or you're so ashamed of it, or you're so confused by it, or you're so scared of your perpetrators, that you're silenced. Sometimes for years, sometimes for your whole life," she says in the video. "It took me seven years after I was raped to admit to myself that I even was raped and that I should be upset.”
Silenced. "I'm still working through what happened. I'm still on that step, which is another reason why I don't feel strong enough or ready enough to name my abusers," she continues.
Tell people. Although she understands why victims don’t want to publicly name their abusers, she suggests that they still do something about it. “Even if you don't publicly name them or go after them in court — tell people, tell your colleagues tell your friends, tell everybody their names and then it is up to us to not work with these people,” the actress says.
Left award shows. In the video, Wood also reveals how she has walked out of award shows after seeing known abuses accept an award on stage. “The fact that women are afraid to name their abusers is not their fault,” the 30-year-old says.
Little faith. Wood continues: “It should tell us all that...women have little faith in the system because it's failed them so many times."
Survivor. Evan Rachel Wood is a sexual assault survivor herself: she has been raped twice before, though she has never publicly outed her rapists. Recently, the actress shared a video where she addresses the Weinstein allegations and explains the reason why she is afraid to go public with the names of her assailants— and why other women are also afraid to come forward with names.
Names. The actress begins the powerful video by speaking about her assailants. "My perpetrators were very powerful, very rich, very entitled, very narcissistic white men,” she explains.
Names. “I haven't named my abusers for a number of reasons. 1. I'm one person against some very powerful people. 2. Money and time and re-traumatizing yourself,” the 30-year-old says in the video.
Takes a toll. “To go after the person who assaulted you takes quite a toll. It is a terrifying thing to have to go through, mainly because you are at risk of not being believed, your career being hurt, being drained of your finances — because it costs a lot of money to file a lawsuit and go to court with somebody. Especially if all you have is your word against theirs and especially if these are very powerful people,” the mom-of-one continues.
Her experiences. In 2017, Wood spoke to Rolling Stone about her own experiences. "I've been raped. By a significant other while we were together,” she told the magazine "And on a separate occasion, by the owner of a bar.”
Her own experiences. In an email to the publication the day after Donal trump won the election, she wrote: "I am still standing. I am alive. I am happy. I am strong. But I am still not ok."
Her own experiences. "I think it's important for people to know that, for survivors to own that, and that the pressure to just get over it already, should be lifted,” she continued in the email.
Trauma. In the video uploaded on YouTube, Wood explained that it took her seven years to realize she had, in fact, been raped. Seemingly, she decided to get help or the trauma she was unknowingly dealing with.
Trauma. Based on her own harrowing experiences, the actress told viewers that many victims are simply not ready to relive those feelings. Not to mention, they’re also not ready to face their perpetrators.
Silenced. Wood went on to explain that the act could be so traumatizing and shameful that the victim is silenced for years. And in some cases, they’re silenced for their entire life.
Silenced. "Sometimes the act is so traumatizing, or you're so ashamed of it, or you're so confused by it, or you're so scared of your perpetrators, that you're silenced. Sometimes for years, sometimes for your whole life," she says in the video. "It took me seven years after I was raped to admit to myself that I even was raped and that I should be upset.”
Silenced. "I'm still working through what happened. I'm still on that step, which is another reason why I don't feel strong enough or ready enough to name my abusers," she continues.
Tell people. Although she understands why victims don’t want to publicly name their abusers, she suggests that they still do something about it. “Even if you don't publicly name them or go after them in court — tell people, tell your colleagues tell your friends, tell everybody their names and then it is up to us to not work with these people,” the actress says.
Left award shows. In the video, Wood also reveals how she has walked out of award shows after seeing known abuses accept an award on stage. “The fact that women are afraid to name their abusers is not their fault,” the 30-year-old says.
Little faith. Wood continues: “It should tell us all that...women have little faith in the system because it's failed them so many times."
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