DesireeNevermind said:

That's what I thought too. But, she gave her blessing instead.
[Edited 4/20/10 13:20pm]

shorttrini said:

shorttrini said:

The parents were just blind. Mo is acting like everything is okay so that actually makes everything okay? Seriously? Obviously they are not familiar with terms such as "coping skills" and "post-traumatic stress." I'm sure Mo'Nique was not only afraid of her older brother but also afraid of what her parents would think and how they would treat her. That family has more issues than just the abuse of their daughter. They seem quite the closeted dysfunctional type...and angry that their dirty laundry has been aired. I hate when people say things like "keep it in the family".

DesireeNevermind said:

I hate that shit too.

DesireeNevermind said:

Yeah, that sounds like my family!

PunkMistress said:

Right! It's like putting up a front for others when you know damn well the family is far from perfect. I hate that shit!

I got molested by two female relatives growing up. Child to Child sexual abuse goes unreported a lot.

Girl4both said:

If you don't mind talking a bit about it, were they ever brought to justice? And have you had a tough time dealing with the repercussion?

shorttrini said:

What does your gf want you to do about it? She's forgiven him? I think her wishes must come first and be respected. Tough not to be angry though.

Fauxie said:

She wants him prosecuted and so do I. If he ever come back to the U.S. he will.

Girl4both said:

Did it play a part in your sexuality?

shorttrini said:

Ah, that's different to my situation. I hope you can bring him to justice someday.

DesireeNevermind said:

Though God knows plenty of people try to use their own abuse as an excuse ultimately it doesn't cut it.

But it is a reason. Abusers don't come from nowhere.

meow85 said:

True but can't a person just be fucked up in the head? I mean are we all inherently good, inherently bad, or a mixture of the two with outside influences and family upbringing playing a major role in how we turn out? There is no evidence to support that all molesters were themselves molested and that all those who are molested will grow up to molest others. I'm not calling the dude a liar...but it wouldn't surprise me if he was indeed lying about his own abuse. Shit, did he even apologize to the girl he molested and which ultimately landed him in prison? Where is his televised apology to her?

DesireeNevermind said:

I'm not saying this isn't all skeezy as fuck. I didn't see the show but from what I've heard it seems clear he's doing this more for the attention than out of any genuine remorse.

But I don't think there are any inherently bad people. There aren't any inherently good people either. Everyone is a mix, with some leaning stronger one way or the other. But whether it's being abused themselves, or bad wiring in their heads a sexual abuser isn't born in a vacuum. Something makes them that way.

DesireeNevermind said:

If he is really deeply sorry for raping/molesting his own sister, why doesn't he request the law enforcers in his hometown to arrest him for these charges?!?

THIS^ is what I'm piss about more than anything else. He NEVER been punished for the crime at all.

meow85 said:

I'd like to believe this because then it means we can possibly stop it in the future but my gut tells me some people are just wired this way and when a person is wired a certain way...there is no stopping them. The only thing that will stop these types of people is their own death.

Mars23 said:

And people wonder why I think Oprah has become a religion in herself.

TonyVanDam said:

Excellent point. I hadn't thought of that. He should be ready and willing to go to prison for what he did to her. I don't think any of the family members addressed pressing charges against him either when it happened or now. There is no statute of limitations I believe so he could very well go to jail even though it's been decades since the crime occurred.

As soon as the parents come to grips with what happened, this will NEVER happen. It seems to me like everyone, is afraid of this man...Especially the parents.
[Edited 4/21/10 12:56pm]

shorttrini said:

Either fear or they just favor him over Mo'Nique. Some families are like that...favoring boys and the boys can do no wrong in the eyes of the parents. He's also their first born I believe...sometimes that plays a role as well.

DesireeNevermind said:

shorttrini said:

I just think it's easier to believe your child is liar, rather than your child is a rapist. I don't think fear of their son is a factor, more like fear of what people will say about their family. It comes down to selfishness.

Also, I don't think the dude is that deluded to think that people are going to praise him for confessing that he raped his sister. I understand the cynicism but I just don't agree. He's already done time for sexually assaulting another girl so he must know by now child abusers and rapists are at the bottom of even Prison social hierarchies.

AshK said:

Sad but true.

I know that some people hate Oprah, but shame on you for using this as an excuse to bash her. This problem is more serious than her. Oprah was molested when she was a child and nobody came to her aid. In her previous shows, she said that this is a big secret that should be revealed because silence only protects the victimizers. This isn't the first time Oprah has had a show about sexual assualt. She's had sexual abusers on her show before. I guess everyone ignored those shows because the people weren't famous/related to a famous person. Oprah's trying to get the word out because so many people ignore this issue, especially when the victims are females because of the double standard.
[Edited 4/21/10 16:05pm]

jeami said:

Thanks for making good points.

jeami said:

DesireeNevermind said:

Oprah said in the opening that before she agreed to do the show, she spoke to Monique and although she didn't want to participate, she gave her blessings because she feels that this interview might help someone that's being abused to come foward

jeami said:

I can tell you why I'm somewhat pissed at her. She gave this dude a platform/stage by himself so he could discuss what he did in a half-assed apologetic way. Why? Because he is the brother of an oscar winner. I don't think he deserves to ride Mo'Nique's coat tails. I could see if this was the first time any of us had heard about Mo's ordeal but he truth is we already knew - she let it out in print and on Barbara Walters who is still highly respected in journalism. For this creep to get that Oprah spotlight is ridiculous. He should be on stage with all the other pervs because he is nothing special and unfortunately everything common. And Oprah needs to have more shows on men who have been abused. Supposedly 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 7 boys are sexually abused. The thing was somewhat sensationalized for me and I expect better from her. It's like when she had Robin Givens on after Mike Tyson. We know Tyson was a lousy husband and he hit Robin but did we really need to hear her re-hash the whole thing? That's all.