Terry Crews was recently near Capitol Hill talking about the Sexual Assault Survivor’s Bill of Rights with the Senate Judiciary Committee. He spoke of how important this issue was to him, especially since he’s been a victim of sexual assault.
Crews didn’t mention the name of his attacker, but previously he has said that Adam Venit touched his genitals at a party back in 2016. Venit has of course denied these allegations.
Terry said that, “The assault lasted only minutes, but what he was effectively telling me while he held my genitals in his hand was that he held the power. That he was in control.”
WATCH – @terrycrews full opening statement: "I am honored to use my platform and story to help create additional civil rights protections for survivors across the nation under the Sexual Assault #SurvivorsBillofRights."
Full video here: https://t.co/RGjyB1WSAm pic.twitter.com/ezi14zs3mY
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 26, 2018
He also said that, “I wanted these survivors to know that I believed them, I supported them, and that this happened to me too. This encouraged me to come forward with my own experience.”
He then spoke about a recent interaction he had with the producer of Expendables 4 (honestly how many stupid Expendables movies do we need?).
“I’ve done three movies called The Expendables with Sylvester Stallone.
The producer of that film called my manager and asked him to drop my case in order for me to be in the fourth installment of the movie, and if I didn’t there would be trouble.”
Terry Crews is testifying in a senate hearing this morning about the statute of limitations for sexual assault survivors and the Survivor Bill of Rights. Crews sits alongside Amanda Nguyen, who created the bill. pic.twitter.com/os12dCY8kA
— Krystie Lee Yandoli (@KrystieLYandoli) June 26, 2018
He had tweeted back in February about this as well saying:
“Management got a call last week from Avi Lerner producer of EXPENDABLES 4 saying I could avoid any “problems” on the sequel if I dropped my case against @WME.
Guess who’s Sly’s agent?
ADAM VENIT”
Crews then shared the humiliation he felt after his assault:
“I was told over and over that this was not abuse. This was just a joke. This was just horseplay,
But I can say one man’s horseplay is another man’s humiliation. And I chose to tell my story and share my experience to stand in solidarity with millions of other survivors around the world.
That I know how hard it is to come forward. I know the shame associated with the assault.”
It’s safe to say that Twitter praised Terry for the amazing man he is, take a look at some of these Tweets.
I asked @TerryCrews why he didn’t use his considerable strength to fight back when he was sexually assaulted. His answer is a powerful reminder of how victims are too often forced into silence to avoid damaging their careers or reputations. We need to hear the truth. pic.twitter.com/8xSxnhXj91
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) June 26, 2018
Terry Crews had to make a decision, slap the shit out dude and lose everything, or correct him another way. I think he made the right decision.
— 🌹 FERRARI SHEPPARD (@stopbeingfamous) June 27, 2018
So shines a good deed in a weary world. @terrycrews I love you brother. With you all the way. https://t.co/RKHzNlIHH7
— JoeLoTruglio (@JoeLoTruglio) June 27, 2018
This news came out yesterday and it’s safe to say the internet has voiced their opinions. One of those opinions comes from 50 Cent and it’s the problem that Terry is trying to confront.
He posted this image on Instagram which he later deleted, maybe you can see why.
His caption says, “LOL, What the f*** is going on out here man? Terry: I froze in fear. they would have had to take me to jail. get the strap.”
I wonder what he would say in front of Terry’s face.
CW: Rape, sexual assault, shaming, victim blaming
This is why men don't often come forward to report their rapes.
If you want one of the many examples of Toxic Masculinity, here's a pretty good one. Terry Crews decided to openly discuss his experience with sexual violence… pic.twitter.com/vY6dMwUfRN
— 𝕶𝖆𝖙 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖖𝖚𝖊 (@kat_blaque) June 26, 2018
Toxic masculinity is what is doing @50cent instead of showing support to @terrycrews he is mocking him.
Childish.
— Kelechi Okafor (@kelechnekoff) June 26, 2018
Terry concluded his speech in front of the Committee by saying how important the Sexual Assault Survivor’s Bill of Rights really is:
“This bill gives survivors the right to have time to distance themselves from the immediate trauma before making the difficult decision to report the assault to law enforcement.”
Keep being a force for good Terry, we the people of the internet are standing with you.