Selling Sunset’s Mary Fitzgerald says she is ‘still haunted’ by sexual assault: ‘It will never 100 percent go away’

As I delved into Mary Fitzgerald‘s memoir, Selling Sunshine, I found myself profoundly moved by her resilience and determination. Her journey, marked by teenage motherhood, judgement, and fertility struggles, is a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

In her recent disclosure, Mary Fitzgerald Bonnet from Selling Sunset shared that she is yet to fully recover from the emotional trauma caused by a sexual assault incident that occurred approximately ten years back.

The reality TV star, 44, shared her heart-wrenching story in her new memoir, Selling Sunshine.

In the sixth chapter of her autobiography titled “Rock Bottom,” she described an incident that took place 10 years ago during Memorial Day weekend. This event occurred after she was invited by a mutual friend of Amanza Smith, who later became her colleague at the Oppenheim Group, before they started working together.

Joe, a man she knows, invited her to his apartment in LA. There, they expected another acquaintance she was closer to to show up too. Together, the trio planned to connect with a bigger circle of their mutual friends.

However, upon reaching Joe’s place, there were just the two of them. He handed her a glass filled with a vibrant blue substance, asserting it was a vodka cocktail. Unfortunately, this drink led to her fainting rather quickly.

In her writing, it is stated that upon waking, she found herself in a position where her arms were restrained to Joe’s bed, and her pants were near her feet. This can be interpreted as suggesting that he was lying above her and had entered into an intimate encounter with her.

Mary said she ran out of the apartment ‘bawling and shaking’ and went into ‘total survival mode.’ 

After reminiscing about the traumatic event, she pens down her experiences on how she managed it and adapted to cope with its aftereffects in her life. If possible, she even shares strategies that helped her, although complete overcoming may not have been achieved, at least she learned to handle the consequences it brought about.

She penned down, ‘The events of that night continue to trouble me deeply.’ To avoid such incidents, she prefers not to visit unfamiliar houses and insists on being in the company of men whom she has known for at least five years or are openly gay, ensuring her safety.

After the assault, her friends, like Amanza, who was dating Taye Diggs at the time, helped her.

‘I ended up leaving and going to New York with both of them right afterwards,’ she told People. 

In my perspective, it became crystal clear that a change of scenery was essential for me. Fresh environments were craved, and the sense of safety I longed for seemed elusive where I was.

Jason Oppenheim, whom she had already dated at that point, was also a big part of her recovery. 

‘When I told him, he was just such a good friend and so comforting and protective,’ she said. 

Later on, she disclosed the incident to her husband Romain Bonnet (age 29), who reacted with surprise upon hearing it.

She remembered him saying something like, “I’m truly sorry you had to go through that,” but really, any caring spouse would do the same. He’s simply shown great support throughout it all.

In my experience as a lifestyle advisor, I’ve found myself reacting unexpectedly when it comes to intimate touch. It’s an automatic response for me, and I’ve had instances where I might jump or flinch. However, my partner has been incredibly understanding and supportive in these moments. He never takes it personally because he realizes that it’s simply a trigger for me.

Bonnet acknowledged that it continues to impact him, adding that he believes it may not completely disappear from his life entirely.

She shared that the most challenging aspect was suppressing much of it for survival, which meant revisiting, experiencing it again, discussing it, and trying to recall her feelings at the time.

In the end, Mary aims to make clear the challenges she faced so that others may understand that ‘there’s always a glimmer of hope beyond the hardship.’

She shared with Us Weekly that there had been numerous times when she found herself in tears, questioning why things had to be so challenging. Yet, she persisted and refused to quit. Furthermore, her aim was to inspire others by conveying a message of resilience.

As a devoted reader, I came across a passage penned by Mary where she opens up about her latest challenges with fertility, following a miscarriage she endured last year. In her own words, she expresses her desire for the hardships she’s faced to serve as a source of help and support for others.

And while she got very candid in her memoir, there were some things she left out.

I left out some things that affected me deeply because I didn’t want to hurt or embarrass anyone close to me, particularly my son Austin, who is 27.)

As a teenager bursting with passion for life, I – Mary – found myself in an unexpected situation at just 15 years old: pregnancy. In the small town of Indiana where I’d grown up, surrounded by familiar faces and comforting routines, I was met with a shockingly cold reaction. People turned their backs on me, their judgmental whispers echoing through the streets as they shunned me for daring to stray from the norms they had so carefully established. Yet despite their disapproval, I continued to write about my experiences, seeking solace in the power of words and sharing my story with those who might find comfort or understanding in it.

‘Things happen for a reason,’ she said.

In every location I visited, I felt like a newborn alongside another newborn, facing constant judgment. It was painful, but this experience has helped me become resilient to criticism we encounter on our show. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that situation was preparing me and toughening my skin.

Fans of Selling Sunset are aware that Mary and Romain have been on a journey to start a family, experiencing a miscarriage and multiple attempts at IVF throughout their process.

In my own words, I’d say, “When you delve into my book, I fervently hope that the takeaway for you is the essence of persistence. I yearn for readers to grasp the importance of pressing on, no matter the challenges or obstacles they may face.

She assured him, “No matter what challenges you’re facing right now, you’ll overcome them just as you’ve handled everything else in your past. Remember to have faith in yourself, because I too, once doubted that I could reach where I am today.

As a die-hard enthusiast, I’m compelled to share these words of encouragement: Keep your spirit high! When life knocks you down, rise again with renewed vigor. Cherish every bit of joy that comes your way, for it is the beacon guiding us through the darkest times.

On September 24, the book titled “Selling Sunshine” – a memoir about surviving teenage motherhood, prospering in luxury real estate, and ultimately discovering my voice – will be available at bookstores.

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2024-09-15 01:38