Marie Osmond published a memoir in 2008, titled “Behind the Smile: My Journey Out of Postpartum Depression.” Within the pages there was a shocking revelation that she had been a victim of abuse, a topic she addressed during as stop on “Larry King Live.” She remained tight-lipped when interviewer King asked if she suffered abuse at the hand of multiple people, noting, “You know, the details I would rather keep to the past.” Of the claims, Osmond did reveal, “I think the most important thing is that the statement that, you know, I was definitely abused, and it was definitely sexual. And you know, those types of things to go through, you think you are over them, but it is the long-term effects of those types of things that you don’t even see. You thinking gets skewed, and I think that is what happened to me, is that is my boundaries were lost.”
She’d later open up further on “The Talk” in 2019, sharing, “When I was about eight or nine, I actually thought I was gay. The reason is because I had been sexually abused to the point that men made me sick. I didn’t trust them, I didn’t like them. I was looking at women and I thought ‘why am I looking at women? I must be gay.” Osmond added it was her family that made her think differently, sharing, “Why did God give me all these great brothers and why did he give me this amazing father? And truly, that changed my opinion of men” (via Page Six).
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If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
