Tyler Perry recently wrote an open letter to one of the alleged victims in the Sandusky/Penn State sexual abuse scandal.
The comedic actor/producer/writer best known for his character “Madea,” got serious when addressing the then 11-year-old victim who spoke out against former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky, who has been arrested and charged with 40 counts of child molestation.
“What you have done is so courageous,” Tyler wrote in an open letter. “The strength that it must have taken for your 11-year-old voice to speak out about such a horrible act is something that I didn’t have the strength or courage to do at that age. I don’t know your name, but I know your face. I don’t know your journey, but I know where you are. I am your brother!”
Speaking of his own childhood molestation experiences, Perry penned, “I felt so powerless. I knew what was happening to me, but unlike you, I couldn’t speak about it, because no one saw me. I was invisible, and my voice was inaudible. So to think that you, when you were only 11 years old, spoke up — you are my hero! I’m so proud of you.”
Perry finished the letter encouraging the victim to testify if court, “You may have to go through with that trial, and you may feel all alone when you’re on that witness stand, but just know that there are millions of young boys and grown men who are standing with you — including me,” he added. “If every man who has ever been molested would speak up, you would see that we’re all around you. You may not know all of our faces and names, but my prayer is that you feel our strength holding you up. You will get through this; you’ve already endured the worst part at age 11. Now fight on, my young friend, fight on! We are all with you.”
