Meredith Vieira Shares Her Own Experience with Domestic Violence
Inspired by the #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft Twitter hashtags that cropped up after the Ray Rice story exploded, Vieira will discuss a physically and emotionally abusive relationship she was in “many many years ago.” In a preview clip available online, she explains that despite the fact that she had “the means” to get away from her boyfriend, she still didn’t, because domestic violence is “a complicated issue.”
As Vieira discusses, no one, no matter how allegedly well-off they are, is immune to the feelings of fear and guilt an abuser can force upon them. “I could ruin your career if I wanted to and no one would want you,” her boyfriend told her – and he made her believe him. Vieira only found herself able to leave once she got a job opportunity outside of the state they lived in.
“We all have to accept the fact that it’s not just an issue with the NFL, it’s an issue with all of our lives and until we take it seriously, more and more women are going to get abused,” Vieira said, before encouraging all women experience domestic violence to tell someone and get help.