Reese Witherspoon reveals she was sexually assaulted by a Hollywood director at the age of 16 as dozens of stars come forward
REESE Witherspoon has revealed she was sexually assaulted by a director when she was 16 but was pressured by Hollywood agents into "staying silent";.
The actress said the attack was the first but not the last she suffered as she became the latest star to open about sexual abuse in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein allegations.
Reece, 41, spoke out against the agents and producers who "made me feel that silence was a condition of my employment" at the Elle Women in Hollywood bash on Monday.
Speaking in front of her 18-year-old daughter Ava Phillippe, Reece said: "[I feel] true disgust at the director who assaulted me when I was 16 years old and anger at the agents and the producers who made me feel that silence was a condition of my employment.
"And I wish that I could tell you that was an isolated incident in my career, but sadly it wasn’t. I’ve had multiple experiences of harassment and sexual assault and I don’t speak about them very often.
"But after hearing all the stories these past few days and hearing these brave women speak up tonight about things that we’re kind of told to sweep under the rug and not to talk about, it’s made me want to speak up and speak up loudly because I actually felt less alone this week than I have ever felt in my entire career.
The Legally Blonde star urged others to open up about their own experiences for future generations of actresses and to help themselves "heal".
She said: "I feel really, really encouraged that there will be a new normal. For the young women in this room, life is going to be different because we're with you, we have your back and it makes me feel better."
Reese didn't give details of the attack but she was beginning to carve an acting career for herself in 1992 and 1993 aged 16.
In 1992 she earned her third named movie credit, in a TV film called Desperate Choices: To Save My Child.
The following year she starred in A Far Off Place, Jack The Bear, and TV mini-series Return To Lonesome Dove.
She spoke at the same event as Jennifer Lawrence, who claims she was made to do a "degrading and humiliating nude line-up" in the early days of her career.
Reese's comments came as allegations against Hollywood producer Weinstein continued to mount.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Cara Delevingne are among the many A-listers to join dozens of women accusing the movie mogul of sexual harassment and assault.
Weinstein has denied allegations of non-consensual sex.
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