Actor and father Matthew McConaughey is opening up about truly horrific events from his past in a new podcast. Fans of the Texas-born actor know that Matthew is not afraid of speaking on difficult or emotional subjects and often wears his heart on his sleeve.
Now, he is opening up about a traumatizing experience from his teen years.
TW: This article contains discussions of sexual assault and may be triggering to some readers.
The 52-year-old recalled being blackmailed into having sex as a teenager and being drugged and molested by a man when he was 18.
Although the actor understandably didn't go into much detail about either event, he explained that he knew something was wrong after reflecting on the values his parents had instilled in him from a young age.
"My dad had always had this thing when he taught us the birds and the bees, he sat me down talking the birds and the bees, he said, 'You're getting that age you kiss?' and I said, 'Yes, sir!'"
"And so he goes, and he's talking to me, he says, 'Son, as a male in the situation,' speaking to me about a heterosexual relationship, 'If you ever feel the girl, the female, hesitate, stop.'"
What amazing advice that I wish every parent gave their child — this world would be a much better place.
Because of these lessons, he knew that the sexually abusive situations he found himself in was not right.
He said that he felt right away that being blackmailed into sex at 15 wasn't right.
"After that, I got to have some healthy sexual relations and have girls that I liked and liked me, and we slowly got intimate and it was beautiful and clumsy, and all those things, but it wasn't ugly like that was," he recalled.
If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma following sexual assault, please visit the resources found here.
