Christina Applegate reveals how she overcame being molested and abused as a child in new memoir

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Christina Applegate kept her childhood experiences with molestation and abuse private for many years, until she wrote about them in her deeply personal memoir, ‘You With The Sad Eyes,’ which will be released next Tuesday.

Honestly, revisiting this has brought up a lot of painful memories, but I’m strong and I’ll overcome them,” the 54-year-old actress, known for her role on Married with Children, shared in an interview with People magazine.

It wasn’t a simple relief when it was over. The hardest part wasn’t the event itself, but finally addressing things I’d kept hidden for a long time – things only my closest friends and family knew about.

Applegate explained that the pen left on the table felt like it was saying, ‘I just finished writing everything, but now I don’t want anyone to see it.’

In her new 304-page memoir, the Emmy-winning actress revealed she still struggles with the trauma of being sexually abused by her female babysitter when she was five years old. This happened while her mother, Nancy Priddy, was out, and was battling a heroin addiction.

‘I knew every part of it was wrong. I felt sick and scared and sad,’ Applegate wrote in her book.

I’ve always been uncomfortable with physical touch, and that hasn’t changed. Throughout my life, this discomfort stems from a childhood experience where a girl pressured me into something I didn’t fully grasp, but instinctively knew was wrong.

I’ve been following MeSsy’s story, and it breaks my heart to learn about her upbringing. It turns out her mom wasn’t just struggling as a single parent, but she was also in a really dangerous relationship. Her boyfriend was abusive, and sadly, he physically hurt her as well. It’s just awful to think about everything MeSsy had to deal with.

‘I think I had kind of the worst situation from three to seven,’ Applegate said.

Honestly, looking back, it was just…everywhere. It wasn’t unique to him, not really. I mean, so many of us grew up with that stuff – moms struggling on their own, a revolving door of guys, and yeah, sometimes drugs were involved. It was just…the reality of things back then, and it was heartbreaking to see even then, even knowing he was different.

The actress, who has been nominated for a Tony Award, went on to say that her story is about a young girl with a wistful look who grew up to be Christina Applegate. She explained that while Applegate still has that same expression, she’s become a much stronger and more resilient person.

Applegate wants her book, You With The Sad Eyes, to offer hope to young people who have experienced abuse, showing them that survival is possible.

‘I had someone say to me, “Are you doing this because you’re being a victim?”‘ the Laurel Canyon native said.

‘I’m like, “No, I’m empowering other people out there.” At least I hope to.’

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, Applegate often spends her days resting in bed to cope with ongoing pain. However, she always makes time for her 15-year-old daughter, Sadie.

The award-winning actor dismissed the idea that parents shouldn’t be friends with their children, saying she doesn’t agree with it at all.

I’m especially protective of her right now. I always have her back and defend her whenever I can. It’s a small thing, but I even play her favorite band, Marcy Playground, really loud on the way to school. That pretty much sums up who I am as a person.

Applegate enjoys making Sadie laugh more than anything, sometimes going to comical lengths like drawing a smiley face on her stomach and pretending to put on a diaper. Sadie, however, usually responds with a playful, “Mom! Mom! Just stop!”

TG Therapeutics employee and bassist Martyn LeNoble marked 13 years of marriage on Monday, celebrating their wedding anniversary.

Applegate and actor Johnathon Schaech were married from 2001 to 2005, when Schaech filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized two years later, in 2007.

Christina Applegate began her acting career with the role of Kelly Bundy on the popular and often cheeky sitcom Married… with Children. The show ran for 11 seasons on Fox, from 1987 to 1997, and helped launch her career. She has since been nominated for seven acting awards.

Patricia Arquette is also well-known for her television work, including roles in the sitcoms Heart of the City (1986-1987), Jesse (1998-2000), and Samantha Who? (2007-2009), as well as the Netflix drama Dead to Me (2019-2022).

The breast cancer survivor, who may have retired from acting, also appeared in films such as Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991), Mars Attacks! (1996), Nowhere (1997), The Sweetest Thing (2002), both Anchorman movies (2004 and 2013), and Bad Moms (2016).

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2026-02-25 18:52