Oscar and Grammy-winning rapper Common has urged other survivors of abuse to tell their stories after recounting an incident from his childhood in his memoir Let Love Have the Last Word.
Writing on Twitter, the 47-year-old, whose real name is Lonnie Lynn, said he had told his story to help others.
I talked about being molested because, as a Black man, many men have hidden that. Many people have hidden that. And you carry that weight with you. But at some point, you’ve got to let it go. https://t.co/DRvuPBcJIp
— COMMON (@common) May 8, 2019
I hope being open about my childhood trauma can give others the strength to do the same and help them on their healing journeys. We all have experienced pain and suffering. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
— COMMON (@common) May 8, 2019
"I talked about being molested because, as a Black man, many men have hidden that," said the artist and actor.
"Many people have hidden that. And you carry that weight with you. But at some point, you've got to let it go."
"I hope being open about my childhood trauma can give others the strength to do the same and help them on their healing journeys," he continued. "We all have experienced pain and suffering. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
If you have been affected by issues raised in this story, please visit: www.rte.ie/helplines.
