Rapper Common admitted he was sexually abused as a child, sharing his account in his newly published memoir.
What We Know:
- Rapper and activist Common is opening up for the first time about a painful childhood memory that actress Laura Dern recently helped him recall while working on his newly released memoir “Let Love Have The Last Word.”
- The 47-year-old Grammy and Oscar-winning artist shares a haunting memory of being molested by a family friend. Common said, “One day while talking through the script with Laura, old memories surprisingly flashed in my mind,”
- Common said, “I remember being 9 or 10 years old on a family trip when his alleged abuse occurred. I was excited about a road trip I was about to take with my family. My mother, my godmother, Barbara, her son, my godbrother Skeet and his relative who I’ll call Brandon.”
- During an overnight stay, Common said he and Brandon had to share a bed. “At some point, I felt Brandon’s hand on me, I pushed him away. I don’t remember saying a whole lot besides no, no, no.” Despite his pleads and resistance, Brandon would not stop.
- Common continued by saying, “Brandon kept saying, ‘It’s okay, It’s okay,’ as he pulled down my shorts and molested me. After he stopped he kept asking me to perform it on him. I kept repeating ‘No’ and pushing him away. I felt a deep and sudden shame for what happened.” The glory rapper added, he believes he buried the painful memory for so long to cope. “I just pushed the whole thing out of my head. Maybe it’s a matter of survival and even now, two years after that flash resurgence of memories, as I’m writing, I’m still working through all of this in myself and with my therapist.”
Common says he forgiven his abuser. He said, “I want to be the person who helps break cycles of violence, This is love in action and I intended to practice it.”
If you or someone who had been affected by childhood sexual abuse, please reach out to 1-800-656 HOPE (4673) or the National Child Abuse Hotline.
