Tamar Braxton says she’s been sexually abused ‘multiple times by multiple' family members
In an interview with talk show host Wendy Williams, singer Tamar Braxton said that as a child she was molested by family members.
The shocking revelation came about unexpectedly. Williams first asked Braxton why she walked away from a family therapy session, which was being taped for the reality show Braxton Family Values.
The session was prompted by four of the five Braxton sisters — everyone except Traci — refusing to work and appear on the show in order to protest their salaries.
Tamar Braxton walked out of that session, but explained to Williams that it was due to someone there shaming her as a victim of sexual abuse.
“I have been molested by both sides of my family,” she said to a stunned audience. “It’s nothing I ever talk about. And I never thought that I’d sit around a table with [life coach] Iyanla [Vanzant] who’s here to talk about me and my sisters and their problems, and to bring that up and sex-shame me, basically, in front of everybody. So that’s why I got up and walked out.”
She also said, “I’ve been battling myself on whether or not I want to say what happened because everyone wants you to be political. But I’m Tamar and I’m real.”
Even Williams was caught off-guard by the news, instead directing the conversation back to Braxton’s ex-husband, Vince Herbert. “Oh. Oh,” she managed to say. “Back to Vince.”
I decided to Tell Wendy and the world MY secret, MYSELF that I have been a victim of abuse not once, twice, ten, but multiple times by multiple “family members” I’ve never told ANYONE other than Two people in my life and they both have held this close to them.
— TAMAR BRAXTON (@TamarBraxtonHer) September 13, 2018
I felt that because this has happened to me recently, that something HAD to be done about people who DID know and tried to make People embarrassed and ashamed about something that has happened to them!!!
— TAMAR BRAXTON (@TamarBraxtonHer) September 13, 2018
I never EVER again want anyone to feel so little and so small or even ashamed about something they had no control over. I wanted to create a space where you can tell your OWN story with out anyone commenting or making you feel ashamed EVER again!!
— TAMAR BRAXTON (@TamarBraxtonHer) September 13, 2018
Braxton then linked to her seemingly new website, noneedtbshame.com
There she posted a new music video for her 2013 song “Prettiest Girl.” On Vimeo, she captioned it, in all caps, “THIS IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR RIGHT TO SAY NO TAKEN FROM THEM.”
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