Rape is most often done by someone the victim knows and trusts in about 80 percent of cases, making it all the more horrific. This year has been essential in supporting that idea with the rape and abuse allegations made against big-time names like porn performer James Deen and Bill Cosby. Dozens of women have come forward to tell their truths despite the terrible consequences and possible legal repercussions their speaking out may lead to. Here is another woman, comedian Beth Stelling, telling her story of an abusive relationship in which she was raped and physically abused, on her terms.
Stelling has had a banner year having released a Comedy Central special and stand-up album Simply the Beth, a year she called "amazing" within the same Instagram post where she revealed she had been abused by her ex-boyfriend, as Jezebel reports. Joined by unnerving photos of her legs and arm bruised all over Stelling wrote about the verbal and physical abuse she endured from her ex-boyfriend. She honestly admitted she continued to date her ex-boyfriend for two months after being abused and raped. But she added that her break up with him was messy saying she "relapsed" and that she didn't know how to handle it when people asked her why they broke up saying she felt "stupid" and "embarrassed."
Here's an excerpt from the post:
Stelling noted how fear and a million other things may stop many like her from coming forward, but with this Instagram post she's showing them they can do it too. In her case it helped others come forward saying they had also been abused by her attacker.
Stelling concluded the post saying that she's already begun talking about this during her stand-up and that many have encouraged her to continue doing so.
