Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph recently sat down with iHeartMedia’s Angela Yee for an interview. During their conversation, Ralph shared a recollection of a disturbing experience she endured while working in Hollywood. In her words, she was publicly sexually assaulted by a “famous TV judge” years ago.
“I’m at a very public place. I was suited. I had my suit on. I was handling my business for the television show I was on at that time. He and I were on the same network,” the Emmy-winning actress said.
“This man walked in, grabbed me by the back of my neck, turned me around and rammed his nasty ass tongue down my throat.”
Adding to her recollection, Ralph noted that “everybody at the network saw it.” However, network executives allegedly told her to keep quiet to avoid “bad press” regarding the matter.
“Somebody on the network tapped me on the shoulder saying, ‘Please don’t,’” she continued.
“They did not want any bad press around their show, and did not care what had just happened to me.”
Ralph did not reveal the name of the judge, but she did make sure to say that it was not Greg Mathis.
“I love him. He’s a great man,” she noted.
“Not him at all. He’s a great man. This was another one.”
By sharing her story, Ralph hopes that it will encourage other women to stand up for themselves in the future.
“Speak up, tell your truth, do not carry the burden of the pain,” she said.
“Especially if you feel like it’s something you can’t work through,”
