Rapper Common says this is why he opened up about being molested as a child

In his just-released memoir, Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir, the 47-year-old actor whose real name is Lonnie Corant Jaman Shuka Rashid Lynn, discloses that he was molested at the age of 9 or 10 years by a family friend. He says the memories began to surface as he and his friend, actress Laura Dern, were prepping for their scenes in the 2018 dramatic film, The Tale.

Taking to Twitter to explain why he talked about being molested as a child in his Memoir, he writes:

“I talked about being molested because, as a Black man, many men have hidden that. Many people have hidden that. And you carry that weight with you. But at some point, you’ve got to let it go.

“I hope being open about my childhood trauma can give others the strength to do the same and help them on their healing journeys. We all have experienced pain and suffering. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

I hope being open about my childhood trauma can give others the strength to do the same and help them on their healing journeys. We all have experienced pain and suffering. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.

— COMMON (@common) May 8, 2019