Harrowing experience

WESTWORLD star Evan Rachel Wood (pic) is defending women who aren’t ready to name their abusers – after countless women came forward accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct spanning decades.

The actress, who revealed she was raped twice, shared a 15-minute video where she explained the reason why she is afraid to go public with the names of her rapists – and why other women are also scared to come forward.

“I haven’t named my abusers for a number of reasons. 1. I’m one person against some very powerful people. 2. Money and time and re-traumatising yourself,” she says in the video.

“To go after the person who assaulted you takes quite a toll. It is a terrifying thing to have to go through, mainly because you are at risk of not being believed, your career being hurt, being drained of your finances – because it costs a lot of money to file a lawsuit and go to court with somebody. Especially if all you have is your word against theirs and especially if these are very powerful people,” Wood continued.

“Once again you’re at the mercy of your abusers and you’ve kicked a hornet’s nest. And you have a target on your back,” the actress explained.

Last year, the actress told Rolling Stone about her harrowing experiences.

“I’ve been raped. By a significant other while we were together. And on a separate occasion, by the owner of a bar,” she told the mag.

In the video shared recently, she explained that it took her seven years to admit to herself she had been raped and to get help for the trauma she faced.

Based on her experiences, Wood told viewers that many women are not ready to relive those things and face those people.

The act, she explained, could be so traumatising and shameful that you’re silenced for years – or your whole life.

While she understood the victims who could not name their abusers, she did admit there were ways to help combat that problem.

“Even if you don’t publicly name them or go after them in court – tell people, tell your colleagues, tell your friends, tell everybody their names and then it is up to us to not work with these people,” the 30-year-old continued.

Wood, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in Thirteen, said she has left award shows after seeing abusers accept a trophy on stage.

“The fact that women are afraid to name their abusers is not their fault,” she said, adding that it just shows how little faith they have in a system that’s failed them. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service