This article discusses some topics that may be triggering to readers. Continue at your own risk. 

          When you think about the words “sexual assault,” what is the first picture to come to mind? Most would imagine a woman being seized by a criminal, held against her will, and forced to participate in intercourse. After the attack, she almost immediately reports the perpetrator and law enforcement handles the rest of it. Of course, while that situation is entirely plausible, people need to understand that sexual violence is so much more nuanced than just that one isolated scenario.

          Did you know that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will be assaulted at some point in their life?

          Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner?

          Did you know that 67.5% of instances of rape are estimated to go unreported?

          Did you know that 1 in 10 children will be abused before the age of 18?

          These statistics might make you think– well, if so many have been victims of sexual abuse, then why does nobody ever talk about it? Why don’t these individuals come forward with their stories? Why do we never meet these abusers in our own lives?

          Well, chances are, you already have. You just wouldn’t know it.

          To put it bluntly, anyone is capable of being an abuser. Abusers aren’t big bad wolves that you can identify with ease. They can appear kind, charming, and trustworthy– like wolves in sheep’s clothing. Your friends and family members could be abusers. Your teachers, classmates, or coworkers could be abusers. Your neighbor could be an abuser. Your local law enforcement officials could be abusers. Even healthcare workers are capable of being abusers. That’s why it’s so hard to come forward. You feel trapped– scared that nobody will believe your testimony against someone already beloved by many.

          Do you know who else could be an abuser?

          Your favorite celebrity.

          Unfortunately, that last one has become an incredibly common occurrence recently.

          American rapper, record producer, and record executive Sean John Combs (more commonly known by his stage name, P. Diddy), along with rock legend Marilyn Manson, Canadian rapper Drake, and several other celebrities have recently been flooded by a sea of sexual assault allegations.

          Let’s start with P. Diddy, and answer the essential questions– why is he blowing up right now? What did he do? What is the controversy?

           According to several news networks, Diddy has multiple charges against him ranging from sexual misconduct to human trafficking. He is facing a series of lawsuits by a Texas firm representing 100+ victims. Over the years, many have come forward to talk about their experiences with this man– some saying they were drugged and assaulted, others saying they were invited to parties where they were abused by Diddy and a multitude of other famous Hollywood celebrities.

           When federal agents raided Combs’ house, they found weapons, drugs, and large amounts of baby oil and lubricants related to the alleged violent sex acts, also known as “freak-offs.”

           Combs has been arrested as of now. However, that’s not the case for Manson or Drake.

           Despite the hefty allegations against him, including the ones by Thirteen star Evan Rachel Wood, Marilyn Manson faces no repercussions for his heinous acts and continues to go on tour as though nothing has happened. 

           The same goes for Drake– despite Kendrick Lamar exposing him for his numerous inappropriate relationships with underage women, he continues to release music, his latest collaboration being with singer-songwriter PARTYNEXTDOOR.

           This begs the question– why are there so many abusers in Hollywood, and why is nothing being done about it?

          Well, it turns out, this isn’t exactly a new phenomenon. 94% of women in Hollywood report being assaulted or harassed, with the first publicized sexual assault case dating back to the 1920s. 

          People speculate that sexual abuse is so rampant there for a multitude of reasons– including that there aren’t any rigorous job standards or qualifications for becoming a star. This gives producers unbalanced power over actors, singers, and other entertainers, and that’s what sexual abuse is all about– power.

          A common misconception surrounding this topic is that sexual violence is fueled by lust or uncontrollable sexual attraction, but this is far from the truth. Coercion and violence are violent crimes motivated by the desire to dominate, hurt, and control another– not by passion. 

          So, now that we know the facts, what can we do as a society to best prevent and combat sexual violence? 

          Although it might be obvious, the most important thing we can do is to believe victims when they come forward. Coming forward about sexual abuse or molestation is one of the hardest things a person can do– for a variety of reasons. Maybe someone is scared that their abuser will hurt them, or that nobody will believe them. They might know that nothing will come of it, because sexual assault cases are difficult to prove in court. They might just be scared that people will view them differently. They might feel shame about being “tainted”, or “dirty.”

          It doesn’t help that when someone comes out about their experience with a famous individual, they are subject to millions of hate comments– people discussing on public platforms whether their trauma is valid or not, thousands of skeptics pressing them for details that might hurt just to remember, and memes circulating that make a mockery of their situation. There is so much stigma surrounding sexual violence already, and by doing these things, people indirectly make that culture worse. 

          Other things we can do to combat this culture of sexual violence in our society include getting involved in efforts to change laws and policies surrounding sexual violence that hurt survivors, raising awareness about sexual assault and harassment, teaching kids in schools about consent and warning signs of abuse, intervening if we witness sexually abusive behavior, and lobbying in defense of victims. 

          The worst thing you can do is be a bystander and watch as these things happen day after day. You might not realize it, but survivors need you.

          I’ll say it again.

          We need you.

  RAINN  (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) Sexual Assault Hotline – 1-800-656-4673