Actress Rose McGowan has revealed she was sexually assaulted by a Hollywood executive, saying she did not report it because she was told she “would never win”.
The 43-year-old shared her experience on Twitter on Friday, joining the conversation about why women don’t report sexual assault to police.
In a series of tweets including the hashtag #WhyWomenDon’tReport, McGowan said she did not report the sexual assault “because it’s been an open secret in Hollywood/media (and) they shamed me while adulating my rapist”.
She said she was discouraged from bringing the case against her unnamed attacker.
“A (female) criminal attorney said because I’d done a sex scene in a film, I would never win against the studio head.”
Shockingly, she added that her “ex sold our movie to my rapist for distribution”.
McGowan’s tweets have been praised by fellow victims and other supporters, including many who have thanked her for coming forward.
Her declaration comes after several women have spoken out about their experiences of sexual assault at the hand of US presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The actress voices her opposition to Trump in an advertisement for Emily’s List – an organisation that supports women in politics.
