200 Men Step Forward to Speak About Childhood Sexual Abuse
Tyler Perry returns for a groundbreaking, two-part special event airing Friday, November 5, and Friday, November 12. Check for updates on this show.
CHICAGO, IL—Shattering the stigma of abuse, 200 men are stepping forward and speaking out—some for the first time—about the trauma of their own childhood sexual abuse in a special two-part episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Tyler Perry returns for a groundbreaking discussion on Friday, November 5, and Friday, November 12, as fathers, husbands, sons and brothers open up like never before about the pain of being molested, their anguish about hiding their pain and the many ways in which their abuse has affected their lives and their relationships.Said Winfrey: "Two years ago, we did a story in O magazine about men being molested and the affect it had on their wives, partners and girlfriends. And Tyler said to me, 'You should do a show about that.' So that is how this began." She continued, "In my 25 years of doing this, I'm more proud of these two shows than almost anything else I've done in my career. These are two of the most phenomenal shows I've ever done."
The first episode on Friday, November 5, begins as each member of the audience holds a photo of himself at the age at which he says he was first abused. Then, joined by Oprah, Tyler and Dr. Howard Fradkin, a psychologist who specializes in working with male survivors of sexual abuse and assault, the men come forward to share their stories and experiences.
In the second episode on Friday, November 12, the men are joined by their spouses, partners and girlfriends to talk about the affects abuse has had on their relationships.
"Just as women responded years ago when I said I had been abused, I hope these shows can be an open door to freedom for every man who has been abused, so that he realizes that he is not the only one," Winfrey said.
It is estimated that one in every six men has been molested as a child. A resource guide will be available on Oprah.com with websites and organizations to assist men who have been abused.
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**Nielsen Cassandra Ranking Report — Nov '86 to May '99 and Wrap Sweeps, Nov '99 to May '10, major sweeps only. Wtd Avg DMA HH Rtg, Primary Telecasts Only.
**Nielsen Cassandra Ranking Report — Nov '86 to May '99 and Wrap Sweeps, Nov '99 to May '10, major sweeps only. Wtd Avg DMA HH Rtg, Primary Telecasts Only.