In light of the Penn State sexual child abuse scandal involving the university’s head coach Jerry Sandusky, Tyler Perry has decided to write an open letter to the 11-year-old victim who brought Sandusky’s actions to light, to commend him on his courage to speak out, despite fear. The Madea actor shared his personal story and related his experience with childhood sexual abuse.
Peep Perry’s recent letter to Newsweek’s Daily Beast below. Also, Syracuse University is now under the radar for a similar case. shm. More info after the jump…
I don’t know your name, but I know your face. I don’t know your journey, but I know where you are. I am your brother!
I must tell you, what you have done is so courageous. The strength that it must have taken for your 11-year-old voice to speak out about such a horrible act is something that I didn’t have the strength or courage to do at that age.
I was a very poor young black boy in New Orleans, just a face without a name, swimming in a sea of poverty trying to survive. Forget about living, I was just trying to exist. I was enduring a lot of the same things that you’ve come forward and said happened to you, and it was awful. I felt so powerless. I knew what was happening to me, but unlike you, I couldn’t speak about it because no one saw me. I was invisible and my voice was inaudible.
So to think that you, when you were only 11 years old, spoke up—you are my hero! I’m so proud of you. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I want you to know you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not your fault. Please know that you were chosen by a monster. You didn’t choose him. You didn’t ask for it and, most of all, you didn’t deserve it. What a huge lesson that was for me to learn. Your 11-year-old self was no match for wicked, evil tactics of this kind. You were hunted like prey. A pedophile looks for the young boys he thinks he can manipulate. The ones who have daddy or mommy issues, the ones who are broken, and the ones who are in need. But this wasn’t you.
Do you know that at the young age of 11 you had more courage than all the adults who let you down? All of the ones who didn’t go to the proper authorities, all of the ones who were worried about their careers, reputations, or livelihoods. All of the ones who didn’t want to get involved. Or even the ones who tried to convince your mother not to fight. You are stronger than them all! I wonder what they would have done if it were their own child.
I had a few of those adults in my life, too. They knew and did nothing. One of them even said to me that it was my fault, because I allowed myself to spend time with the molesters. And yes, this was someone who was in power and could have called the police, but instead this person allowed this criminal to go on molesting other young boys for many years. When I did tell a family member, I wasn’t believed. I suffered in silence. But not you, my young strong hero, you have done what many of us wish we could have done. You used your voice!
You know, now that you’re older you need to be aware that the aftermath of abuse may affect you for a very long time. But that’s OK; just know that the strength it took for you to talk about it then will help you get through it now. I often tell myself that if I made it through that experience as a child, then surely as a man I should be able to get past it. It still may take you a while, but that’s OK too. I have known people who have gone through the same things that we have, but unfortunately they were never able to admit it, and it destroyed them. They never went for help, and they let the abuse defeat them. Some of them went to prison for crimes, some are addicted to drugs, and some have even committed suicide. I know that none of these things will happen to you. You are too strong for that!
No matter what happens next, just know that the hardest part is over. I wish the coward and very sick individual who hurt you would have the courage to admit his wrong and not put you through a trial. But he will most likely profess his innocence until the bitter end. And probably, all the while, yelling at the top of his lungs about all he has done to help troubled young boys.
You may have to go through with that trial, and you may feel all alone when you’re on that witness stand, but just know that there are millions of young boys and grown men who are standing with you—including me. If every man who has ever been molested would speak up, you would see that we’re all around you. You may not know all of our faces and names, but my prayer is that you feel our strength holding you up. You will get through this; you’ve already endured the worst part at age 11. Now fight on, my young friend, fight on! We are all with you. [Source]
In related news: Syracuse University’s assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine was fired over the weekend after 3 men came forward about being sexually molested as teenangers. What’s more disturbing is that his wife knew all along! Just sick.
Very well put. That young man will let this be his testimony and God will use him to do great things!
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Excellent!! *clapping my hands and giving him a standing ovation*
Wow! Incredibly powerful and touching letter from Mr. Perry. God bless him and all those boys.
My heart goes out to all the young boys and girls who is going through this, please know that you are not alone! well said Mr. Perry!
And to all the MONSTERS OUT THERE, PLEASE KNOW THAT THE LAKE OF FIRE WAS NOT CREATED TO BE VOID!
Thank you Mr Perry…I know the acknowledgement is so very appreciated. Acknowledging the hurt, no more sweeping it under the rug. May God continue to bless him and anyone else in this world that has been manipulated.
Remarkable
This is what is needed is for the monsters to be exposed and put under the spotlight. God Bless the victims and Tyler Perry for his courage to help lift up those less fortunate.
BRAVOOOO Tyler, BRAVO!!!! *clapping hands*
TELL IT LIKE IT IS YOONG MAN…..I TOO WILL CLAP MY HGANDS STOMP MY FEET AND SAY BRAVO BRABO….STOP HIDIDNG AND PROTECTING THESE RAPIST…not molested….the rapist all need to be placed on a foreign soil and bombed…
People think its about money..they need to pay punitive damage but the turmoil these young men suffer is horrible
typo….clap my hands
I haven’t read this yet, his last open letter was ridiculous!
lmao ridiculous how? i read this and while i feel it was from the heart – it was poorly written. but i guess i’m being a crab by pointing that out. #kanyeshrug
Love, Love Tyler for using his fame to expose this reality in the black community, any community. Open my eyes to how vulnerable boys are, as much as girls. Kids endure some horrific childhoods. Molestors in the black community expecially, need to be exposed in families, churches, and communities. Otherwise kids are at risk the less it is exposed and confronted. I bet Tyler feels so free now that he has exposed the crap that has happended to him and he has used his fame for more selfLESS reasons than most people in his position.
He has opened the dialog more which encourage more victims to feel more free to talk about what has happended to them. The more folk arrested the more a deterrant and the more kids are left the hell alone. No excuse for it, too many adults, prostitutes, voluntary perverts out there they can go to for all that, leave kids alone. Also Oprah and Monique. He didnt have to reach out but he did, let me guess the critics still got something to say. Keep doing your thing Tyler, love you!
I love Mr.Perry he is soo inspiring <3
Smh @ all these depraved white guys
the men that molested tyler weren’t white. i don’t like white folks either – but lets not be blind to these predators. they come in ALL colors.
I’m not going to lie but before I read the letter I did think to myself why must tyler perry make everything about him. It’s a good letter and maybe if more people including adults who are aware of what is going on would come forward we would have less of this. The fact his wife knew is beyond disturbing.
How does Tyler Perry have the time to pen an open letter, Ninja you need to focus on making a good quality black film, which you haven’t done, ever.. How about you pen that down, a good damn script… This guy is a joke Im officially on the SPIKE LEE BANDWAGON when in comes to this guy… It’s time to make MADEA’s Funeral…
hey Ninja shut the hell up, Tyler makes good movies, just because u are too lame to realize it, is not his problem, team spike chile please, when was the last time he made a movie let alone a good one, in my madea voice
suuut down, and shut the hell up
This is coming from a person, who user name is SUGA MAMA, please go sit down, spike lee made movies where people were spinning around and on drugs, Tyler Perry doesnt have to wait for hollywood to give him a movie like SPIKE do, Tyler Perry speak about love, forgivness, happiness and joy, and at the end of the day who cares what you think, Tyler Perry really dont care and his fans dont care either, he is on the forbes list, what list or you on LoL!!! Grown up and Grow some wisdom and insight before you make yourself look will dumb!!!
anybody that doesn’t recognize the coonin’ in a TP film … is clearly a coon themselves. i mean, if it’s funny to you…you can most likely relate to it. TP isn’t funny to me and his plots are always blow way out of proportion. I can’t relate.
Do you really think Tyler cares who like him or not, he can care less, he has millions of fans that have his back, so what you dont fine his humor funny, millions of other people do. Its funny how we as black can go watch a Jim Carry movie and fine it funny but we cant fine what Tyler Perry do funny, I have learn to support all race, in music, films and sports. The issue that most black american people have is, HATE, we hate on each other to much, and that is said. They have been many white male actors dress up as a women and they didnt get no bad talk about them, but oooh when tyler do it its not funny,, I think the people that dont like tyler perry movies are the main ones that deal with does issues that he discuss in his movie and it hits home, and for the others like spike lee is hating cause he has to wait on hollywood to get his movies and why he and some of the other hater are being uncle tom, kissing his behind typer is kissing his bank account and can care less, I know doctors, lawyer, and educators that love tyler message and love his movies, get over it tyler has a fan base and he is going no where, people want to hear about love and forgiviness, and if he have to add humor while some people heal for their pain and pass so be, if dont like , dont watch it, just know millions of other will, oh and by the way Obama loves Tyler and Madea. Tyler represent the true american dream from homeless to riches, and he just dont keep it to himself, he gives to charities. So I dont think we are coons for watching tyler perry, I think you are the coon, and an uncle tom for talking nagative about a brother who is opening doors for alot of blacks and spanish, cause hollywood wasnt, with that being said, Black America we have to start supporting our OWN (Oprah Winfery Network) LoL and our own people too!!
NaijaChick – I thought the same…MY OPINION – I appreciate Tyler for reaching out to this young man but I do believe it could’ve been shorter and more direct. At certain points it DID seem like Tyler was having a flash back and it became more about him than the victim – Plus we dont want him to have any ideas i.e. suicide and drugs. Some key points should’ve been left without mentioning.
There were definitely parts of the letter not needed and somewhat self indulgent but maybe having a celeb speak up regarding this issue will help others speak up?
Well done Tyler, if only more would speak up and speak out!
Well said!!!
WHO care abou this Drag queen he/she just wants all the attendion the he/she can get how pitful is that.
ugh sit your fat black ass down somewhere
Anyone who knows anything about Tyler Perry knows the subject of molestation is near and dear to his heart (just like Oprah)
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