Celebrities who have experienced domestic violence | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Swoon

6 Celebs Who Survived Domestic Violence And Prove Even The Strongest Women Can Face The Hardest Battles

It can happen to anyone.

275
6 Celebs Who Survived Domestic Violence And Prove Even The Strongest Women Can Face The Hardest Battles

Every 9 seconds, a woman in the United States is assaulted or beaten. Statistics show that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women, more than car accidents, robbery, and rapes combined. These celebrities show that domestic violence can truly happen to anyone, and it's a very difficult thing to admit and escape.

1. Halle Berry

Halle Berry has opened up about growing up in a house in which domestic violence was a part of daily life, where she witnessed her mother be continually battered by her father. In 1996, Halle Berry opened up to People magazine about being in an abusive relationship with a former boyfriend, leaving her 80% deaf in one ear. She is now a key member of the Jenesse Center, a national domestic violence prevention and intervention organization. At the Imagine VIP cocktail party to benefit the Jenesse Center in 2015, Berry talked about her ongoing struggle with her abuse, saying, "It seems like I've overcome it, but I really haven't. In the quiet of my mind, I still struggle. So while I'm helping these women, I'm helping myself through it, too. And that's largely why I'm here."

2. Sarah Hyland 

In 2014, actress Sarah Hyland obtained a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend Matthew Prokop, stating that he physically and emotionally abused her throughout their relationship. When she ended the nearly five year relationship, Hyland stated in court documents that Prokop "relentlessly bombarded me with vile, threatening and emotionally disturbing texts and voicemails including his own suicide threats."

3. Rihanna

In 2009, Rihanna's then boyfriend and superstar Chris Brown famously left her bruised and bloodied on the side of the street. The abuse was shocking and publicized but was not the first time Rihanna had experienced domestic violence in her relationship. Growing up, she witnessed her father repeatedly physically abuse her mother. In a Vanity Fair article in 2015, Rihanna addressed her domestic violence with Chris Brown and being "a poster child for victims of domestic abuse." She said, "for me, and anyone who's been a victim of domestic abuse, nobody wants to even remember it. Nobody even wants to admit it."

4. Amber Heard

In 2016, Amber Heard accused ex-husband Johnny Depp of domestic violence, with photos of her bruised head. Their divorce proceedings followed suit. Depp denied the allegations and the pair reached a divorce settlement in which she withdrew the charges of domestic abuse. However, Amber Heard later wrote an open letter on domestic abuse, speaking about how difficult it is for women to come forward, and how the label of a victim is a hard one to accept. She says, "When a woman comes forward to speak out about injustice or her suffering, instead of aid, respect and support, she will be met with hostility, skepticism and shame," she wrote. "Her motives will be questioned and her truth ignored."

5. Tina Turner

Singer Tina Turner repeatedly suffered sexual and physical abuse by her then husband, Ike Turner. He raped her and nearly killed her on several occasions before they finally ended their relationship. Ike has since publicly admitted to abusing Tina.

6. Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron's alcoholic father consistently abused her mother, and threatened to kill her and her mother repeatedly. When Theron was 15-years-old, her mother shot her father dead. In South Africa, Charlize Theron has worked to open up rape crisis centers.

Report this Content
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

5783
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

119944
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Bucket List To Live In The Now

Find excitement in your life and start exploring wherever you are right here, right now.

1566
mu bucket list

I was sitting at my cubicle, now that I am an adult, looking at the rain pouring down on the windowsill, bumming on life, wishing for the rain to just stop for a full day.

There are moments where we count down the hours until work is over and how many more days till the weekend, and this many weeks until something exciting. Or something like that? Well, I was bumming because my next day off from work is not until Memorial Day weekend, which is not until the end of May. And since this is my first year out of college being a “real person,” I am totally missing the winter, spring and summer breaks. I am sure all of us have felt this way even if just for a hot minute…

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Ways To Survive Finals As Told By Leslie Knope

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

1111
Everything hurts and I'm dying

So finals are on their way. That's right everybody, finals are about to start.

But hey, don't panic. Start getting your affairs in order and prepare for a week of hell. Here's a few things Leslie Knope wants you to do to make your finals week just a little bit less stressful:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments