Madison Beer speaks out about betrayal by ex-crush who she sent ‘very private’ clips of herself to at age 14: ‘This was a traumatizing experience that has instilled intense trust issues in me’
- Singer, 21, says she sent ‘very private’ pictures to a one-time crush in 2013
- She said her crush circulated them among his friends and word got around
- Beer said she ‘was distraught and ashamed’ amid the fallout of the leak
- She declared: ‘Today, on IWD I am going to free myself of this weight I carry’
Madison Beer took a powerful stand against shaming on International Women’s Day Sunday.
The 21-year-old singer, via social media Sunday, said she refuses to feel shame over a set of ‘very private’ pictures she sent to a one-time crush in 2013, that he subsequently circulated.
‘Today, on IWD I am going to free myself of this weight I carry,’ said the Long Island, New York native, who earlier described the chain of events she said left her traumatized, distraught, ashamed and with trust issues.
Focused: Madison Beer, 21, took a powerful stand against shaming on International Women’s Day Sunday in a series of social media posts. She was snapped last month in LA
‘When I was around 14 and exploring my body and sexuality, I sent very private [Snapchat clips] of my body to a boy I really liked at the time,’ the Unbreakable artist said. ‘I sent these, at 14, thinking I could trust the boy as we had known each other for years & shared feelings for one another, but of course he shared it with all his friends.’
She said that once Snapchat clips leaked, they were seen by her parents, grandparents, fellow musical artists and executives in the industry.
Beer said she ‘was distraught and ashamed,’ as the leak of her intimate photos ‘was a traumatizing experience that has instilled intense trust issues in [her], that [she’s] still working on today.’
She said she recently received word that a separate clip she sent to the same ex-crush are circulating, reopening old wounds.
Speaking out: The singer said she refuses to feel shame over that a set of ‘very private’ pictures she sent to a one-time crush in 2013, that he subsequently circulated
‘If only I could express the trauma and share this has reopened for me,’ she said. ‘All these years I’ve had perpetual anxiety.
‘I’ve been in the dark and fearful of this [Snapchat] as if it was a dirty secret I’ll always have to keep, because I was told it would damage my career and wasn’t okay.’
Beer said that as a 21-year-old woman, she reflected on the message she would have for herself seven years earlier amid the personal betrayal.
‘I am going to tell my 14 year old self the following which I hope may help some of you to be kinder to yourselves as young women,’ she said. ‘You should not feel shame. You were exploring your sexuality, you were learning. You should not feel like you did something wrong.
‘Shame on those who betrayed your trust & SHAME ON THOSE WHO SHAMED YOU.’
Relieved: Beer thanked her fans and followers for supportive feedback
Got her back: The singer’s mother Tracie was among many to show support
On the move: Madison donned a khaki ensemble from pal Justin Bieber’s fashion line Drew while out last month in LA
In a separate message she thanked her fans and followers for their kind feedback to the emotional announcement.
‘Being vulnerable online is extremely hard & scary for me but [you] guys have made me feel so comfortable & welcomed,’ she said. ‘Thank [you] for the response on my recent. [I] hope in the future as [I] start sharing more of my personal experiences & struggles they can help heal some people including me.’
The singer’s mother Tracie Beer lauded her as ‘such an inspiration,’ calling her daughter ‘such an inspiration.’
She added: ‘I really hope that this helps other females that have been in similar situations.’
Confident: The entertainer was snapped earlier this month at a party in LA
