Grammy-winning Hollywood actor and rapper, Lonnie Lynn, more popularly known as Common, has revealed he was sexually molested when he was a child. In
Grammy-winning Hollywood actor and rapper, Lonnie Lynn, more popularly known as Common, has revealed he was sexually molested when he was a child. In his new memoir ‘Let Love Have the Last Word’, the 47-year-old activist and philanthropist recounted being molested by a family friend who he referred to as Brandon.
“I was excited about a road trip I was to take with my family. My mother; my godmother, Barbara; her son and my godbrother Skeet; and his relative, who I’ll call Brandon,” he wrote.
“At some point, I felt Brandon’s hand on me. I pushed him away. I don’t remember saying a whole lot besides ‘No, no, no’. He kept saying ‘It’s okay, it’s okay,’ as he pulled down my shorts and molested me. After he stopped, he kept asking me to perform it on him. I kept repeating ‘No’ and pushing him away. I felt a deep and sudden shame for what happened. I just pushed the whole thing out of my head. Maybe it’s a matter of survival. Even now, years after that flash resurgence of memories, I’m writing. I’m still working through all of this in myself and with my therapist.”
The alleged sexual assault was reportedly committed by an undisclosed person related to his godbrother when the rapper was only 10 and had to share a bed during the trip. Revealing he has neither confronted the alleged abuser nor seen him in well over 25 years of the devastating assault, Common said he has learned to forgive and wants to “be a person who breaks the cycle of violence”.
Common added that he is being open about his experience in hopes that it encourages others to feel safe talking about theirs as well.
