Sarah Hyland Opens Up About Sexual Assault on Twitter with the Hashtag #WhyIDidntReport
Women and men around the country have been coming together in support of sexual assault survivors this week. The movement was prompted by the multiple sexual assault allegations against President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh. Many have been questioning why the women, who claim Kavanaugh sexually assaulted them in high school and college, respectively, didn't press charges years ago. Now, survivors all over the country are taking to Twitter to explain #WhyIDidntReport, proving that sometimes, fear, shame, or even lack of knowledge can keep a woman from telling her story.
Even Riverdale star Lili Reinhart joined the conversation, explaining that she didn't report her sexual assault, because she didn't want to lose her job or be labeled as a drama queen.
Sarah Hyland of Modern Family also spoke out about her experience with sexual assault, posting to Twitter in support of Judge Kavanaugh's accusers. Like Lili, she cites not wanting to be dramatic as a reason why she didn't report her assault.
#WeBelieveChristine #MeToo #believewomen #IBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/T1Evor6GTD
- Sarah Hyland (@Sarah_Hyland) September 27, 2018
"He was a friend," she wrote. "It was New Year's eve my senior year of high school. Everyone was drunk. He broke in to the bathroom I was in. I hoped it was a dream but my ripped tights in the morning proved otherwise. I thought no one would believe me. I didn't want to be called dramatic. After all I didn't say no. Shock can do that to a person."
Many teens are adding their experiences to the discussion as well. Some explained how they thought sexual assault was "just what all teenaged boys do," or they didn't even realize that it wasn't right.
My moms brother, only a few years older than me. He was my grandmas youngest and “could do no wrong” I was told that it was just what all teenaged boys do. #WhyIDidntReport
- Shelby Hawkins (@ShelbyH19112770) September 22, 2018
bc i was a little kid and he was older. i didnt know it wasnt right and i thought my mom would be mad at me #WhyIDidntReport
- Tina Dawn (@spuffy_forever1) September 21, 2018
Others said they DID report the assault, but were told to keep quiet.
Also because he was a frat bro and national guard and I DID report to the school my srat and frat they told me to be quiet and not cause a scene and it was my word against his #whyididntreportit #whyididreport
- Ari Zentner (@stARI_nitez) September 22, 2018
Some were simply too scared to talk about it.
Lili this means the world to me. I was raped when I was 19 and I never reported it but it really was because I was scared. A simple reason but at the time I felt so alone and I didn't tell anyone for almost 3 years. It was torture. #WhyIDidntReport
- #SAVESHADOWHUNTERS (@EternityBroken4) September 22, 2018
Because I didn’t know any better and was scared that If i Said something then I’d just be blamed for being too intoxicated. #WhyDidntIReport
- Jeanne d'Arc ?? (@NotJoanOfArc) September 24, 2018
Or, like Lili, they didn't want to be labeled as a "drama queen" or be told they were just seeking attention.
Because I had already reported it happening from 2 other people 2 separate times and didn’t want people to think I was making it up and seeking attention... #WhyIDidntReport 😕😐
- Kolbie baird (@Koko_lover_125) September 21, 2018
Because I was scared. A 11 y. o. Girl scared of what people would've said. He was their favorite so I would've appeared as an annoying baby. #WhyIDidntReport
- Your Darkness (@FoOnMeB) September 22, 2018
because i was 16 and I didn’t want to make a scene #WhyIDidntReport
- nut (@LittleCEB) September 22, 2018
because he was family & i didn’t want to cause drama. #WhyIDidntReport
- ciella (@HailoxHailo) September 24, 2018
Because I was 12 years old, and he convinced people I was just “overreacting” to how we were “playing”. He was in his late 30s/early 40s. #WhyIDidntReport
- Emmaline Elizabeth (@emmalineb94) September 22, 2018
And others thought they might get blamed or wouldn't be believed.
#whyididntreport because we met through tinder, and I knew everyone was going to say it was my fault for meeting up with him. Still vividly remember saying no but my voice getting overpowered by pain and embarrassment.
- LoveThatForYou (@passion8girl1) September 22, 2018
Because the first person I told told me “you probably just don’t remember you wanted it.” #WhyDidntIReport
- Stephanie Moran (@Steph_Nicole04) September 22, 2018
Because i had no evidence and i thought nobody would believe me #WhyIDidntReport
- chelsea (@chelseapen96) September 22, 2018
Whatever the reason, every man and woman has the ability to choose whether or not to report their sexual assault. And, whether they decide to report it right away, never, or even 20 years after, we must still #BelieveSurvivors
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