'Reacher' star Alan Ritchson reveals sexual assault by 'famous' photographer: 'Left some scars'

"Reacher" star Alan Ritchson is opening up about a sexual assault at the hands of a photographer earlier in his career.

In an interview for The Hollywood Reporter, Ritchson addressed his experiences in the modeling industry and he "enjoyed" his former career.

"I was booked for a shoot for this very famous photographer. I was sent into a hotel room to do nudes with the promise that if I did the shoot, he would offer me a very lucrative campaign for a magazine and a clothing line," Ritchson told the entertainment outlet. "I was sexually assaulted by this guy."

Alan Ritchson says he went into 'Reacher' mode to stop a car robbery in Canada

After he confronted his agency about sending him to the shoot, the "Ordinary Angels" star stopped modeling.

"I quit the industry, and it was the last photo shoot I've ever had. Those pictures were never seen or published. That was it. I swore it off and thank God acting found me at the exact same time, so I was able to make a switch to a new career, but it left some scars," Ritchson said. He did not reveal the photographer.

He also compared his career in modeling to human sex trafficking, saying the industry "is not regulated."

"It's a widely known secret that if you're hired on a job, you're basically being passed off to a photographer to be trafficked," Ritchson said. "The number of times and situations where I was put in horrific environments where sexual abuse was the goal and the paycheck that you were desperate for in order to survive was the carrot, I can't count on two hands. It was quite often."

Ritchson also detailed sexual harassment and assault by photographer Mario Testino at a post-Versace runway show dinner in 2014. USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Testino for comment.

Although Ritchson acknowledged the original harrowing situation, he acknowledged that it was worse for women.

"You're always dancing around this very terrible line of, 'How do I keep the job and not completely offend this photographer or this agent or whoever set this thing up, and how do I not get raped?' I completely empathize with women who deal with dynamic power struggles with predatory people in the workplace," Ritchson said.

"It's still unfair, but if I really had to, I could get myself out of whatever room I was in through a physical altercation. Most women don't have that option. Imagine how terrifying it must be," he continued.

Alan Ritchson says he went 'Reacher' to stop a car robbery in Canada

And Ritchson recently got into a physical altercation. In January, he made headlines after detailing his attempt to stop a robbery while waking to a dinner date with his wife, Catherine, in Montreal, Canada. The pair observed someone breaking into a car and he ignored advice from his wife to not get involved in the situation.

Ritchson told Canadian entertainment news program Etalk that he went into "instant 'Reacher' mode," and chased the person for four blocks until he "tossed him into a building and the cops came."

The "Smallville" alum also discussed his past suicidal ideation and attempts with The Hollywood Reporter, saying he attempted suicide after a series of negative life events.

“I hung myself. It all happened so fast, and I was dangling there," Ritchson said, adding that he attempted suicide but used experience doing "a million pull-ups" to help save him after seeing his three sons in a vision.

Later, he said doctors diagnosed him with ADHD and bipolar disorder.

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE & online.rainn.org). 

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.

Contributing: Emily DeLetter

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alan Ritchson reveals sexual assault by famous photographer