Angela Bassett Recalls Mother’s Ex Boyfriend Molesting Her When She Was 12 ‘It Was Devastating’

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett Recalls Mother’s Ex Boyfriend Molesting Her When She Was 12 ‘It Was Devastating’

While empowering women to speak out against sexual assault, actress Angela Bassett has revealed her own encounter.

Bassett, 61, served as host for Rape Foundation’s yearly brunch. During her walk on the red carpet, she explained her experience with being a victim of molestation by the hands of her mother’s boyfriend at the time. She said she woke up to the man touching her inappropriately.

“Fortunately, it wasn’t a complete assault, it was fondling, but it was devastating enough for a child who’s 12 or 13.”

She said she was blessed enough to have a mother who didn’t waste time to take action.

“Thankfully to have a mother who could tell as soon as light broke that this happened and for her to expel him…. That she heard me, believed me, and did something about it was so empowering for me as a young teen, as a young woman.”

The “9-1-1” actress, who has 13-year-old twins (daughter Bronwyn and son Slater) with husband, actor Courtney B. Vance, said that they teach their children to

“be aware.”

“They’ll be in situations one day, and when a girl says no, both to him and to her, she means no.”

Angela Bassett, Courtney B Vance and children

In her opening remarks for the event, Bassett also said,

“Those who have the privilege to know, have the duty to act. And that means us. That’s why we’re all here today — to see, to hear, to learn and to never, never miss anything.”

“I wish we didn’t live in a world where sexual assault existed. I wish they weren’t victims of such a heinous, life-altering crime. I wish we lived in a world where our children felt effortlessly protected, without any fear of someone violating or hurting them. But sadly that is not our reality. And with that, thank God for sanctuaries like the Rape Treatment Center and Stuart House.”

What are your thoughts on Angela’s statements? Tell us in the comments!