Terry Crews Gave A Powerful Testimony Of His Alleged Sexual Assault To The US Senate

Brooklyn Nine Nine actor Terry Crews gave his testimony of his experience with sexual assault in front of the US Senate yesterday.

In the midst of the #MeToo movement beginning back in October 2017, Terry spoke about for the first time about being groped by a Hollywood agent at a party.

He was asked to give testimony at a hearing on proposed legislation for the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights yesterday – and in court, he outlined what had happened to him:

The assault lasted only minutes, but what he was effectively telling me while he held my genitals in his hand, was that he held the power. That he was in control. This is how toxic masculinity permeates culture.

After being asked whether he fought back against his attacker, Terry got visibly upset.

“Senator… As a black man in America, you only have a few shots at success. You only have a few chances to make yourself a viable member of the community. I’m from Flint, Michigan. I have seen many, many young black men, who were provoked into violence. They were imprisoned, or they were killed.”

terry crews talking about why he didn’t fight back while being sexually assaulted. i don’t usually share stuff like this but y’all gotta watch this. pic.twitter.com/Z3gk8qybKT

— ☆ (@LilNasX) June 26, 2018

As he recalled the attack, Terry spoke about why he found it so hard to make public.

I was told over and over that this was not abuse. This was just a joke. This was just horseplay. But I can say one man’s horseplay is another man’s humiliation. And I chose to tell my story and share my experience to stand in solidarity with millions of other survivors around the world. That I know how hard it is to come forward. I know the shame associated with the assault.

Terry credited his wife for getting him through the tough period in his life.

“My wife, for years, prepared me. She said, “If you ever get goaded, if you ever get prodded, if you ever have anyone try to push you into any kind of situation – don’t do it. Don’t be violent. She trained me, I’ll be honest with you.”

The actor also explained that after his assault, he contacted the agency of the attacker and he has the texts to prove it.

I told them how I almost violent, but I didn’t and I said “What are you going to do about this predator that you have roaming your hallways?” And I was told, “We’re gonna do everything in our power. We’re gonna handle this Terry. You’re right, this is unacceptable.” And then, they disappeared.

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