Matthew McConaughey Reveals How He Overcame Sexual Abuse From a Man While Unconscious
Sexual assault is a serious crime that many people are victims of—even celebrities. Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has had several experiences of his own with sexual assault, and he bravely shared them during a recent interview.
During the conversation, the Dallas Buyers Club star revealed that he was assaulted by a man while he was unconscious.
In the same interview, McConaughey also recalled how he was blackmailed into losing his virginity, and the psychological impact both experiences had on him.
Matthew McConaughey revealed he was sexually abused while he was unconscious
McConaughey went into detail about how the assault affected him during a recent interview with Graham Bensinger.
“Well, one, I remember being grateful that I’d come to and sort of woke up with enough time to—and consciousness to—defend the situation,” McConaughey said.
He was able to overcome the traumatic experience
Although McConaughey still vividly remembers his experience with sexual assault, he says he was able to overcome the trauma and form healthy intimate relationships.
“I mean, mentally, it didn’t askew anything in mind,” McConaughey said. “It didn’t change the way I saw the world or the way I viewed reality or healthy sexual interactions, or anything like that. It was very clear to me that I was in a very unfortunate situation. It was also very clear to me that I wanted to get the hell out. As far away from it as I could get. You know, talk about a divine intervention. … That I came to at the time I did before it could’ve gotten a lot uglier.”
Matthew McConaughey was blackmailed into losing his virginity
Later in the interview, McConaughey also revealed that he was forced to lose his virginity because he was being blackmailed.
“Not the ideal way to lose your virginity, but it’s how I lost mine,” McConaughey said. “It was very clear that … the way that it was happening to me, the way that I was having at that time was not the way I wanted it to be. Nor thought it should be for anybody”
A devout Christian, McConaughey had fears that he was going to be punished for engaging in premarital sex.
“At the time, I was sure I was going to hell for the premarital sex,” McConaughey revealed. “But now I’m merely sure that I hope that’s not the case. [Laughs] Yeah, I was raised on the, you know, ‘Don’t have sex until you’re married,’ and so that was one thing,” McConaughey said. “But then the other thing [is] that it was a blackmail situation. No, I mean I’ll say this. I’ve had times where I’m like the blackmail wasn’t worth it.”
He still thinks about the inappropriate encounter from time to time
McConaughey still thinks about the experience on occasion, and sometimes wishes he’d have stood up to his abuser.
“It was a heavy-duty blackmail, but I have had times where I’m like, ‘You should’ve just said ‘Go for it. Do, say exactly what it is you want to do. I ain’t doing it,’” McConaughey said. “It might have been worth going, ‘Hey, f–k you, go for it. Turn me in.”
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.
