Actress and #MeToo activist Alyssa Milano compared giving birth to being sexually assaulted on People magazine’s podcast “Me Becoming Mom.”
In the interview, Milano recalled her experience giving birth to her first child, Milo, who is now 10.
“I remembered at one point [during childbirth] really not enjoying the fact that lots of people had access to my vagina and thinking to myself, ‘I don’t like this,’” Milano said.
“‘Why does it feel so familiar? I’ve never had a baby before. Why does this invasive feeling feel so familiar?’” she continued. “That was just a fleeting moment—a tick in time—but I didn’t forget about it.”
During the Trump administration, the former child sitcom star first went public with claims that she had twice been sexually assaulted in her past—once when she was a teenager, 30 years prior. However, she explained that she had not reported it to police, nor to her parents, nor any witnesses at the time.
Hey, @realDonaldTrump, Listen the f*** up.
I was sexually assaulted twice. Once when I was a teenager. I never filed a police report and it took me 30 years to tell me parents.
If any survivor of sexual assault would like to add to this please do so in the replies. #MeToo https://t.co/n0Aymv3vCi
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 21, 2018
After childbirth, Milano said she went to therapy to help her postpartum anxiety and depression. While in therapy, she came to the conclusion that this triggered memory contributed to her anxiety.
“I have to think that because it felt that way for me, it must’ve felt that way for other women,” Milano explained. “I wonder how much of my postpartum anxiety was due to—of course, hormones and all of the things—but also that feeling that felt like I wasn’t in control, you know?”
Immediate responses on Twitter were largely confused as to why this information was being shared at all.
There has also been some concern for Milano’s mental health, as well as concern for her son.
Why was this necessary?
— President Miguel Fweedom, PhD. (@TXKnights) November 5, 2021
Omg. This is sad. She needs serious help, not the spotlight.
— Christina Pushaw ? (@ChristinaPushaw) November 5, 2021
I’m sure her son will be fine when he learns that his mom felt like she was being raped while giving birth to him. Definitely something you want the mainstream media to cover so one day when he’s older he’ll get to read about it.
— NOLA Dude in PHX (@dhoytinaz) November 5, 2021
