Jessica Simpson Reveals How She Told Her Daughter About Her Experience With Sexual Abuse
Last year, Jessica Simpson bared it all in her memoir Open Book. The star gave fans an honest account of her life as a pop star and tabloid magnet.
Additionally, Simpson also let the world in on some of her deepest memories as a child, including a sexual abuse experience. Many people now know about this part of Simpson’s past, and she revealed that her daughter Maxwell does as well. She recently shared how she told Maxwell about this tough subject.
Jessica Simpson opened up about being sexually abused as a child
In Open Book, Simpson wrote about being sexually abuse by the daughter of a family friend. The girl was only a year older than Simpson, and the abuse began when Simpson was 6 years old and they were sharing the same bed.
In some instances, Simpson’s younger sister Ashlee would be in the same bed with them, though Simpson always made sure to “protect” Ashlee from the molestation.
Simpson wrote that the abuse happened three times a year. It went from being a nighttime occurrence to later happening during the day. The singer said, “She would get me to go into a closet with her, or just find a way to linger until we were alone. It got to the point that she would sneak into the bathroom to watch me shower. I did not know how to get away from her.”
Simpson shared that the abuse affected her sleeping patterns for years. She could not sleep well even in her own bed and away from the abuser.
When she was 12, Simpson decided to tell her family about what was happening. The Simpsons ended up never staying at the family friends’ house again, but Simpson noted that her parents did not openly talk about her abuse either.
Jessica Simpson told her daughter about the experience
Simpson’s honest revelation touched the hearts of many readers, and this led her to eventually tell her daughter Maxwell about it.
According to ET, Simpson has written a new intro for the latest paperback edition of Open Book. The intro talks about how Simpson once met an abuse survivor at a book signing.
“When she walked away, Maxwell asked, ‘What was she talking about?'” Simpson writes. “This was going to have to be the time for our talk. Parents have to seize these moments when you have your kids’ attention.”
Simpson recently told this story to Good Morning America as well. She said, “it was a perfect moment because she saw how being open and being honest with your feelings, how you can inspire people that way … how it can make a change in people’s lives.”
Jessica Simpson believes in being open with her children
Simpson has also shared that she does not believe in sweeping uncomfortable topics under the rug. Instead, she wants to be open with her children.
“We’re a very open family,” she told Good Morning America.
Simpson revealed that her kids have read some parts of her book as well, though she also tells them many things about her past anyway.
“I talk to my kids about everything,” she said. “There’s nothing really that’s off limits.”
How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
