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05th Oct 2018

Actress Tatum O’Neal posted about being assulted when she was only 5 years old

Melissa Carton

The child star who won her first Oscar at age ten recently posted to social media about her traumatic experiences.

In the wake of the Christine Blasey Ford case against Brett Kavanaugh, many other women have come forward to speak out about their own sexual assaults.

These women now include veteran actor Tatum O’Neal who posted to Instagram yesterday with a heartbreaking account of how she was repeatedly assaulted as a child.

View this post on Instagram

M O O D!! I am a woman and i have been sexually assaulted more than once !! It was not my fault when i was 5, 6 12 , 13 , 15. – All by older men who i thought were safe ! I rarely have known safety and was always blamed for for the assaults and,my loudness , and curiosity. It’s taken in me almost 55 years to know how to advocate for myself But I learn fast and here I go!! To see the president of US.Mock a woman, let alone a sexual assault victim. We’ve sunk to a depth of depravity that I never thought the president of the United States could ever sink to you. With uproarious laughter for someone who was assaulted at 15 years old. Whether it was 35 years ago to a 75-year-old man at 15 I remember everything !! It’s time to band together. So this time in history is having a lot of negative impact and Activation-for alot of people like me. there are people will say, I had it coming or it was probably my fault. Or I deserved it -that’s what America has come to you now. Together we fight on for the empathy, and kindness towards one another, whatever your preferences are , whether you’re black or white or conservative or liberal we are Americans and we should always fight for people who have had trauma or who have suffered, and never hurt others for whatever reason. I’ve never seen such a dark time in our country . I was too young to remember 68 – but I feel like we’re headed to something much worse -Before gets better. Let’s,lead with love and kindness and empathy Towards one another.But we , victims the victim of sexual Assault,or violence,must NOT put down our armor.It’s time to fight for one another and each other in this dark time ! America We can do better – we will be better!!’ ????

A post shared by Tatum O'neal (@tatum__oneal) on

The harrowing post began by Tatum explaining how she had, as a child, been blamed for everything that had happened to her;

“I am a woman and I have been sexually assaulted more than once !!

It was not my fault when I was 5, 6 12 , 13 , 15. – All by older men who I thought were safe !

I rarely have known safety and was always blamed for the assaults and, my loudness , and curiosity.”

Last year saw a number of former child stars speak out about sexual offences committed towards children working in the film industry.

Most famous of these were from Stand By Me and Goonies star Corey Feldman and Dollhouse and Buffy actress Eliza Dushku.

O’Neal who has been an actress since she was ten years old went on to say that;

“It’s taken in me almost 55 years to know how to advocate for myself.”

The star has spoken out in the past about being neglected and abused but her latest post is particularly poignant and hard hitting.

If you or anyone you know has been affected by this sensitive issue you can contact the Rape Crisis helpline on 1800 778888.