In 2023 I was assaulted.

 

This was a tough thing to process as I was in a consensual relationship with this person. Statistics indicate that 8 out of 10 sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. I stayed silent and was ashamed.

 

In September of 2024 the anxiety, depression, nightmares, and unpredictable breakdowns became too much and I decided to publicly speak out to protect myself from being invited places I knew this person may be. My initial statement in September of 2024 did not mention details of my assault and in fact discouraged further public discussion. Before anyone else even saw the post my abuser had attempted to contact me and downplay his abuse as “issues”.

 

In the days after, I was sent screenshots of my abuser sending private photos of myself to a mutual friend in an attempt to deny his allegations.

 

Only after this did I make a separate and final statement detailing my abuse in full.

 

I lost several jobs due to struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, breakdowns and sought professional help. I have been in therapy and on medications since. I have been diagnosed with a mental illness, lost housing, and moved in with family in the year after speaking out about my assault.

 

In the year since my final statement on October 3, 2024 I have not spoken about my abuser or any of his businesses publicly.

 

In November of 2024 I received an email containing what I believed at the time a fake “cease and desist” from my abuser in order to intimidate me more. My family and friends had to help me seek legal advice only to find out that a cease and desist cannot be sent via email to our understanding. The email stated I had 60 days to delete my post mentioning my assault. The email also victim blamed me and credited his lack of business as my fault. The amount of time came and went and I was left with increasing anxiety again. We believe this was an intimidation tactic to get me to delete my statement.

 

In Mid-July of 2025 I was served papers at my workplace stating I am being sued for defamation and damage to my abuser and his businesses due to my posts in 2024. I believe this is a tactic to further intimidate me and pressure me to delete my initial statements.

 

I have made an attempt to reconcile this situation without police or legal intervention by speaking out about my abuse and moving on.

 

Now I am being sued by my abuser for defamation and damages to his businesses despite working hard to repair my life over the past year.

 

The $5000 I'm requesting is a conservative estimate of what legal representation for a counterclaim and court costs for the alleged defamation and damages might cost. This is an attempt” for my abuser to further use his power, money, and influence to intimidate someone younger than him that he assaulted. Any extra donations after the lawsuit will be used to continue my mental health care and medications.

 

Thank you so much for listening.