The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Teri Hatcher

In 2006, Teri Hatcher opened up about "something [she's] tried to hide [her] whole life," getting candid about her experiences as a victim of sexual abuse in an interview with Vanity Fair. After decades of hiding the truth, Hatcher revealed how, when she was growing up, she and her parents lived in Sunnyvale, California, close to her mother's sister and her husband, Richard Hayes Stone. When she was just 5 years old, Stone, her uncle, began abusing her. "These are haunting things I've remembered all my life," she said of the memories, revealing, "I feel such shame, because it felt like I was special [...] but at the same time you know it's wrong."

Over the next several years, the torment continued — and her parents never knew. "The last time I saw him — I think I was eight or nine — my mother invited them over to the house for dinner, and I went ballistic," Hatcher recalled. "My mom thought that was pretty out of left field, but that was when her instincts kicked in." Although her mother "removed [her] from the situation," she never asked her daughter what had happened. "Nobody wanted to talk about it," Hatcher told the magazine, adding, "All I did was blame myself. It was something I tried to bury completely," she continued, concluding, "It's why I don't associate with my mother's side of the family; in my mind, I try to pretend they don't exist."

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

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