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Mariska Hargitay reveals how husband Peter Hermann reacted to her sexual assault

BBG News

Mariska Hargitay shared insights on the response of her spouse following her disclosure that she had been raped by a friend, when she was around thirty years old.

In an episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, the 61-year-old actress shared her experiences and the impact it had on her relationship with her husband, Peter Hermann, whom she’s been wedded to since 2004, when she disclosed the abuse.

When Mariska reminded him, the 57-year-old actor agreed that it was an instance of sexual misconduct.

Or:

Mariska brought up the past incident, and the now 57-year-old actor acknowledged it as a case of sexual abuse.

Both sentences convey the same meaning but are written in slightly different ways for variety and readability.

As a lifestyle expert, allow me to share my insights: I fully grasp the concept of denial and dissociation, and I acknowledge their prevalence in many aspects of life. I’ve found that it’s essential to create ample space within oneself to navigate these complexities effectively.

Currently, when I reflect upon it, I express gratitude towards the aspect of me that protected me, the piece of me that held back, telling me I wasn’t prepared to confront it yet.

In January 2024, the gifted actress disclosed this in an emotional first-person piece for People, sharing that she momentarily lost consciousness and felt detached from her physical self during the distressing attack.

 On the podcast, she candidly talked about how she was ‘in denial’ over the assault.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but confess, I was utterly baffled when I found myself stuck and unable to escape. You see, I’ve always managed to find a way out, whether it be through the power of my intellect, the magic of comedy, or simply by outsmarting the situation. But this time, I hit a wall I couldn’t seem to climb over.

It was puzzling to me that I didn’t grasp something, but it lingered within me nonetheless. Eventually, my self-blame grew, until it struck me clearly what had transpired.

Earlier, the actress from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit spoke frankly about experiencing rape.

In her essay for the year 2024, she described an incident from her thirties: A man I knew as a friend had exercised power and control over me in a non-sexual manner, exerting overwhelming dominance. Later, he was no longer my friend.

Despite attempting various approaches such as joking, being friendly, establishing limits, reasoning, and simply saying no, nothing worked. He forcefully held me down, and I was filled with fear. I didn’t want the situation to escalate into physical violence. Looking back now, I realize that it had already crossed the line into sexual violence, but at the time, I was too afraid of his potential physical aggression.

The celebrity admitted that she entered a state of shock or numbness following the attack, as she struggled to comprehend what had transpired.

She expressed: “I took it out, eliminated it from my story. Now, I have an abundance of empathy towards the aspect of myself that made that decision, as it was this part that helped me endure. It never occurred. Now, I respect that part: I did whatever necessary to persevere.

In 2004, Mariska established the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to aiding survivors’ recovery from sexual assault and fostering changes in societal responses towards such incidents. By doing so, she expressed that the foundation provided her with a means to initiate her own healing process.

She expresses: ‘I felt it was crucial to witness the form healing might take. In retrospect, I have mentioned, “I’m not a survivor,” she notes. ‘At that time, I wasn’t lying; that wasn’t my perception of myself.’

Mariska acknowledged that she had downplayed instances of rape over the years, but eventually came to a turning point where she had a revelation: “To be honest, I didn’t really consider it rape.” However, as time passed and things changed within me, I started discussing this matter more openly with those who are closest to me. (This version tries to maintain the same meaning while using simpler and more conversational language.)

She expressed her desire for ‘an admission and a sincere apology’ from her assailant, stating: “Regarding justice, it’s crucial to understand that it might mean something unique for every survivor. For my part, what I seek is an admission and an apology. ‘I am truly sorry for what I did to you. I raped you. There is no justification.’

This challenging episode in my life was truly harrowing, yet it doesn’t encapsulate who I am completely. Just as no other incident in my narrative fully captures my essence.

‘No single part of anyone’s story defines them.’

In just two weeks, she will be sixty years old. Later this year, in September, she will mark the 25th anniversary of her successful series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

For the initial ten years of the show, Mariska took a supporting role, as she is the daughter of the iconic 1950s pin-up girl, Jayne Mansfield.

Between 1999 and 2011, Christopher Meloni portrayed the main character, Elliot Stabler, while Mariska Hargitay supported him as Olivia Benson on the show.

In this partnership with Elliot Stabler, I was his fellow detective, coming in slightly behind him in terms of experience. I was striving to match his pace.

Later on, in 2011, Christopher Meloni departed from the show, leaving Mariska Harioult as the main character on the series.

In a fascinating twist, reality mirrored fiction when, coincidentally, her real-life career progressed in parallel with her character Olivia Benson. She ultimately rose through the ranks, earning the title of squad captain.

Unfortunately, she met an untimely death at the age of 34 in a distressing car crash, where three of her kids were also present, among them being Mariska who was only three years old.

Mariska’s dad, Mickey Hargitay, known as a popular heartthrob from Hungary, won the title of Mr. Universe in bodybuilding back in 1955.

Following the unfortunate passing of Jayne, Mariska found solace by moving in with her father. He offered her a secure environment until she eventually pursued her career in acting on her own.

She has been married to Hermann, 56, since 2004 and the pair share three children.

Should you or anyone you’re acquainted with encounter any of the concerns discussed in this narrative, please reach out to the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226 for assistance.

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2025-06-26 01:22

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