ITV This Morning: Rebekah Vardy praised by viewers for opening up on sexual abuse

This Morning presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were joined by Rebekah Vardy on the sofa earlier today. 

Sitting alongside Emma Kenny, a TV psychologist, Rebekah waved her right to anonymity and opened up about the sexual abuse she experienced as a child. 

The 37-year-old first spoke publicly about her ordeal back in 2016 and revealed why she talked about her abuse at that time.

Rebekah told Holly and Phillip: “I think for me, around that point before Jamie and I were getting married, a lot of untrue things were being said. There are reasons why I did the things I did – when I was a tearaway child, drinking. 

“I didn’t see there was a pattern because of what had happened to me when I was young [and] I wanted people to understand I had been through a lot in my childhood.” 

Rebekah said she suffered abuse on and off for three years from the age of 12 and it was not at the hands of a family member. 

Holly asked the mother-of-four why she didn’t tell anyone about the abuse.

Rebekah explained: “To begin with, it was the fear of being judge, not being believed. 

“I did tell my dad and we did go to the police, I made a statement with the poilce. [But] I did’t know what to do with myself – I was made to believe it was my fault, it was all in my head, it got me in such a state I withdrew my statement.” 

Phillip then clarified: “You were hugely encouraged by your father to to the police, but your mum gave you a bad reaction – it was her’s that made you withdraw your statement.” 

“It came from my mum and dad splitting up when I was young,” Rebekah explained. “I was backwards and forwards between two parents and I didn’t want anymore friction in the family. I felt so bad about it and I just said ok [and withdrew the statement].” 

Phillip stated they couldn’t speculate as Rebekah’s mother wasn’t there to comment on the matter: “Obviously she’s not here to tell her side of the story.” 

The conversation then moved onto Rebekah addressing the abuse following the birth of one of her children. 

Suffering from post natal depression, she said it was the first time she “connected the dots as an adult”. 

“I learnt to suppress emotions and shut away negative effects. [But] it all just became too much. I thought I have to do something, not just for myself but for my kids – I didn’t want them seeing mum falling apart. At that point I had to go and get help,” she said.

Holly was keen to ask Rebekah about day to day life now and said: “Can I ask you now, day to day now life, as a survivor of that abuse, how are things? Do you have to work on it, can you move forward?”

She remarked: “After I had my little boy, I had therapy and it allowed me to close pandora’s box, to lose the face of the abuse. That really helped me it but there are times when I really do struggle.” 

Those watching at home took to Twitter to praise Rebekah for discussing such a difficult topic. 

One said: “@thismorning so much respect for Rebekah!”

“@RebekahVardy is a brave woman #ThisMorning,” another added.

A third wrote: “@RebekahVardy Her story! Such a strong woman! #ThisMorning.”

“#ThisMorning such an empowering story with Rebekah Vardy. Such a brave person to discuss her troubles whilst she was younger,” someone wrote. 

Another Tweet read: “Rebekah Vardy is awesome for speaking out (sic)”. 

Dispelling the myths that surround sexual abusers and their victims, Emma explained why it can take a considerable amount of years for the victim to come forward. 

“Usually because they love their abuser,” she began. “The child often has a deep relationship with the person who abuses them. 

“One of the ways predators get access to children is being wonderful and caring and then also abusing them.” 

If you or anyone you know has been affected by this topic of conversation, please see the This Morning helplines here. 

This Morning airs weekday mornings at 10.30am on ITV.

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