During a recent interview with David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres revealed she experienced sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather.
In a conversation taped for Letterman’s Netflix show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, DeGeneres explained how her stepfather used her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis as an excuse to fondle her. She was only in her mid-teens at the time.
“He told me when she was out of town that he’d felt a lump in her breast and needed to feel my breasts because he didn’t want to upset her, but he needed to feel mine,” DeGeneres said. “Again, because I didn’t know about bodies, I don’t know that breasts are all different. 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.”
Related: Ellen DeGeneres reveals the one little word she was forbidden from saying on TV
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According to Ellen, the abuse continued and escalated over time. “He tries to break my door down, and I kicked the window out and ran ’cause I knew it was going to go more to something.” She added: “I didn’t want to tell my mother ‘cause I was protecting her and I knew that would ruin her happiness. We just don’t feel like we’re worthy, or we’re scared to have a voice, and we’re scared to say no. That’s the only reason I think it’s important to talk about it because there’s so many young girls and it doesn’t matter how old you are.”
DeGeneres also said that she told her mother, Betty, about the abuse, but Betty didn’t believe her. “I should have protected myself and I didn’t tell her for a few years and then I told her,” Ellen explained. “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.” Betty has since apologized for not believing Ellen sooner.
The episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction featuring Ellen DeGeneres lands on Netflix May 31.
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baal61
I’m so sorry for your suffering Ellen” My Genetic father’s mission was to destroy his family’ through sexual abuse’ neglect’ and emasculating me as he claims his had him’ I say to wrongs never make a right” and intention is a powerful force good’ or horrible you have a very strong spirit and a beautiful heart.
TimothyBeauchamp
I’m sorry for your suffering, as well.
patricklee5150
Hi, Ellen. I’m sorry you suffered like that at the hands of your step dad. I had a horrible step dad too. He did some really awful things to me. I never told anyone until many years later because he convinced me that if I told anyone, he would kill my mom & sisters right in front of me & then kill me. I believed that I was being heroic by protecting my family. I know now that those horrors messed up my mind so badly that I’ve never had a normal, loving relationship because I never felt I deserved love. I pray we both overcome all of that.