Mariska Hargitay, known for her role in 'Law & Order: SVU,' shares a startling incident from her 30s.
The 'Law & Order: SVU' actress discloses a distressing experience of sexual assault in her 30s, perpetrated by someone she considered a friend. This revelation comes through a powerful essay published by PEOPLE on Wednesday.
Hargitay, 59, describes the incident as more about dominance and control than sex. In her words, "It wasn't sexual at all. It was dominance and control. Overpowering control."
Attempting various ways to escape, including humor and setting boundaries, she faced physical restraint and fear. Hargitay shares, "I went into freeze mode, a common trauma response when there is no option to escape. I checked out of my body."
For a long time, she struggled to process what had happened, finding it hard to believe. Eventually, she decided to cut it out of her narrative, a coping mechanism she now empathizes with as a survival strategy.
Hargitay, an actress, producer, and activist, dedicated significant effort to develop the Joyful Heart organization, aimed at helping survivors of abuse and sexual violence heal.
Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledges the evolution of her understanding, mentioning, "I occasionally had talked about what this person did to me, but I minimized it."
Hargitay's spouse, Peter Hermann, noticed a shift in her perspective as she began discussing it more openly with close ones. Their gentle naming of the incident played a crucial role in her own realization and reckoning.
Motivated to raise awareness about acquaintance rape, she emphasizes the need to challenge stereotypes. "Because many people still think of rape as a man jumping out of the bushes. This was a friend who made a unilateral decision," she writes.
Speaking on justice, Hargitay articulates her desire for acknowledgment and apology, stating, "I'm sorry for what I did to you. I raped you. I am without excuse. That is a beginning." Acknowledging the unique journey of each survivor, she stresses the importance of personal healing and understanding.
