Reese Witherspoon Reveals She Was Assaulted As A Child Actor

Reese Witherspoon recently spoke out about harassment she faced as a child actor. Witherspoon, who’s been working since she was a young teen, admitted to Vanity Fair that she was "assaulted" and "harassed" as a child actor. She also stated that it is a risky business for a child to work in a world meant for adults.

“Bad things happened to me,” Witherspoon, 43, told the magazine about the dark side of being a child actor in the industry. “I was assaulted, harassed. It wasn’t isolated."

Key Takeaways:

• Reese Witherspoon told Vanity Fair that “I was assaulted, harassed, it wasn't isolated”.
• Witherspoon is a well-known name in Hollywood. Her project Big Little Lies was applauded worldwide.
• She was a teenager when she acted in her first film Man In The Moon.  

No Social Media

The Big Little Lies actress made her screen debut as a teen in 1991 with The Man in the Moon. Witherspoon revealed. “I was assaulted, harassed. It wasn’t isolated. I recently had a journalist ask me about it. She said, ‘Well, why didn’t you speak up sooner?’ And I thought, that’s so interesting to talk to someone who experienced those things and then judge them for the way they decide to speak about them. You tell your story in your own time when you’re ready".

Also Read: Law alone can’t deter sexual harassment at workplace

Witherspoon, produced the film Gone Girl, which was released in 2012. The film is an adaptation of the book authored by Gillian Flynn.

The good side of Social Media

Talking about how today the time is different from when she debuted, how circumstances are still same but appropriate measures are being taken against harassment, Witherspoon said, “There wasn’t a public reckoning 25 years ago when this stuff happened to me. There wasn’t a forum to speak about it either. Social media has created a new way for people to express themselves that I didn’t have. That’s the great strength in power and numbers.”

She admits that she “grew up thinking you dress the way you want to be treated.” But her 20-year-old daughter Ava has helped her understand that hiding sexuality isn’t the answer. “I can tell you what my daughter would say,” Witherspoon said adding “Why should a woman have to sublimate her own sexuality, because that’s not her responsibility, the way she’s viewed, right? Her sexuality shouldn’t be diminished because she’s having a conversation about consent. You should be able to be sexual, to display your sexuality, because consent is consent, no matter what.”

She acknowledged it isn’t “how I grew up ... But things are changing."

READ: Priyanka-Starrer ‘A Kid Like Jake’ Selected For Sundance Film Fest

Feature Image Credit: NY Daily News

Read More Stories By Ria Das