Sheryl Lee Ralph, the incomparable award-winning actress, recently revealed she was sexually assaulted by a “famous TV judge.”
The “Abbott Elementary” star was a guest on the “Way Up with Angela Yee” show and was asked about her connection to the Me Too movement, which she discusses in her book, “DIVA 2.0: 12 Life Lessons From Me For You.”
Sheryl shared that she would often question herself about why she would experience harassment and unwanted advancements.
There was one incident, where it was like the third time something like this had happened to me and I thought to myself, ‘What did I do to deserve that?’ My skirt is at my knees, I have on a sweater blouse. What made this man this he could just come over and put his hands on my body…he didn’t know me.
Sheryl Lee Ralph went on to share how years later she confronted the man who had violated her and everyone was “appalled.”
“They told me that I should be ashamed of myself and why would I even bring that up…and at the dinner table.”
She went on to add, “I can tell you of another time. This was a famous TV judge – not Judge Mathis – I love him. He’s a great man. Not him at all.”
This was another one. I’m at a very public place. I was suited. I had my suit on I was handling my business for the television show that I was on at that time.
He and I were on the same network. This man walked in, grabbed me by the back of my neck, turned me around, and rammed his nasty tongue down my throat!
And everybody at the network saw it!
Sheryl said that she reached out to Marc Morial, who was the Mayor of New Orleans at the time, and he immediately offered to send the police.
However, the network urged her not to press any charges.
Somebody at the network tapped me on the shoulder and said ‘please don’t.’
Do you know that they did not want any bad press around their show and did not care what had just happened to me?
Watch the clip below.
People have taken to social media to share which TV judge they suspect of violating Sheryl Lee Ralph, but I will refrain from unintentionally accusing the wrong person.
Who do you think it was?
Reminder: Sheryl’s new book arrives on April 18. Scoop your copy now.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or join the convo on our socials. (Facebook, Instagram)
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