Speak Up: Celebs Who Overcame Sexual Abuse As Children
Mary J. Blige
Singer Mary J. Blige has always connected with her fans because she sang with a pain so deep and real, many could relate. Turns out some of that pain stemmed from an incident way back in her childhood. At five years old, the “Real Love” singer was raped by a friend of the family. Years later, Blige was still affected by it. “I remember feeling, literally right before it happened, I just could not believe that this person was going to do this to me,” Blige said. “That thing followed me all my life. The shame of thinking my molestation was my fault – it led me to believe I wasn’t worth anything.”