After audio of 7th Heaven actor Stephen Collins confessing to sexually abusing three different 10- to 13-year-old girls surfaced a couple months ago, the actor has remained silent about the horrific (and damning) evidence. Even as he lost every single acting gig he had, Collins refused comment.
That is, until now.
The actor broke his silence to People, apologizing for what he did and trying to at least contextualize the recording and the specific incidents. He wrote:
“40 years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret. I have been working to atone for it ever since. I've decided to address these issues publicly because two months ago, various news organizations published a recording made by my then-wife, Faye Grant, during a confidential marriage therapy session in January, 2012. This session was recorded without the therapist's or my knowledge or consent.
“On the recording, I described events that took place 20, 32, and 40 years ago. The publication of the recording has resulted in assumptions and innuendos about what I did that go far beyond what actually occurred. As difficult as this is, I want people to know the truth.
“I did have an opportunity to [apologize] with one of the women, 15 years later. I apologized and she was extraordinarily gracious. But after I learned in the course of my treatment that my being direct about such matters could actually make things worse for them by opening old wounds, I have not approached the other two women, one of whom is now in her 50s and the other in her 30s.”
Collins will next sit down with Katie Couric in an interview that will stream on Yahoo and be shown Friday on ABC’s 20/20. While you can’t fault the guy for trying, it’s probably going to take a really long time for this apology tour to have any affect whatsoever.
[via People]
