TikTok star Loren Gray has spoken about her decision to publicly share her experience of being sexually assaulted at age 12, saying she is 'glad' she did it despite initial pressure. The 18-year-old, who has over 60 million followers across social media, revealed the assault in a video in May.
In her only interview on the subject since, Gray told Radio 1 Newsbeat that she felt compelled to share after receiving a message that someone else might tell her story 'in the wrong way'. She said the process was difficult but she handled it as best she could.
Gray wrote in her TikTok video that she was assaulted in a basement belonging to someone she trusted. She initially blamed herself, but says talking to her parents and fans helped her realise it was not her fault. She has not reported the assault to authorities, stating it was not right for her healing process at the time.
Since sharing her story, Gray says many fans have told their own stories of sexual assault. She expressed gratitude for the positive response and hopes her openness has helped others. Gray credits making videos and her fans' support as key factors in her recovery.
