Like many victims of sexual violence, Héloïse Martin has chosen to speak out.
The 27-year-old actress, seen notably in the
Tamara
saga at the cinema and on the floor of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2018, revealed in a long message posted on her Instagram account that she had been a victim of incest on the part of a person in his family during his childhood.
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" I am 9 years old. My life changes like one in ten children in France. I am a victim of sexual violence… And I decided to tell you everything
, she explains in the preamble.
At 9 years old, I was raped by an uncle.
This ordeal lasted several months.
I am 11 years old.
I find the courage to tell my mom about it.
I am lucky to have been listened to and believed immediately.
Many victims are not.
At that moment, my family exploded.
I am 16 years old, I attend the trial of my attacker, he confesses to the facts.
I feel a lot of injustice.
For him, 18 months suspended prison sentence.
For me, a lifelong injury.
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The actress continues her chilling story by speaking more specifically about her attacker.
“He is the father of three daughters.
He raped other women in the family.
He is a monster, manipulative, perverted, and he retained parental authority.
Judge, is everything okay?
He was banned from approaching me following the trial but he did not respect this restraining order.
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“The damage is immense, I sink into anorexia only to die out and disappear”
Héloïse Martin
Héloïse Martin also reveals the consequences of these sexual assaults on her daily life and on her life and the suffering she subsequently endured.
“The damage is immense, I sink into anorexia only to die out and disappear.
15 years of night terrors…”
, she confides in her message.
Read alsoIncest and sexual violence against children: the new missions of Ciivise II
Mother of a little Rose, aged one and a half years old, Héloïse Martin decided to testify by telling her story in a comic strip entitled
Les Yeux Fermes
which will be published on March 8 by Dupuis BD editions.
A book she started writing three years ago.
“I’m talking about rebuilding a family after incest, it’s my story
,” she explains.
I am stronger and more courageous than him, I managed to speak at only 11 years old.
He was the adult, I was the child, he had the power, I was carefree.
He raped me but I spoke.
He destroyed my family, he who was only a patchwork.
And, today, I'm releasing this comic.
»
By speaking out about this personal trauma, the actress hopes to help other victims.
“As a child, I was not aware of the seriousness of the events, but above all I thought I was the only one to experience these attacks.
Today, I know that my story is unfortunately banal and I would have liked to read, to hear other testimonies... They would have helped me
,” she writes before addressing directly to those who suffered, like her, sexual violence:
“To all the victims, know that you are not alone… We believe you, we will not give up, the fight has only just begun.
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