Comic Kelly Bachman grabbed international headlines last week when she called out Harvey Weinstein during her set, while he was sitting in the audience. Now, she's opened up about the experience in an op-ed for the New York Times.
In the piece, Bachman explains that in the aftermath of her viral performance, the comedian felt like she hadn't said enough — a feeling she associates with the way many survivors of sexual assault feel.
Bachman details her own three rapes at ages 17, 20 and 23, lamenting the "lost time" as a result of the traumas and healing processes that follow.
She writes:
I'm tired. I'm tired of missing work because of a trauma episode. I'm tired of spending an entire week thinking about rapists instead of thinking about jokes. I'm tired of losing friends and family because of rapists. I'm tired of losing sleep because of rapists.
I wonder how many relationships, good grades, good schools, happy days, fun parties, job opportunities and even joyful moments onstage I've missed because of rapists.
Bachman admits that she feels like her comedy career has been derailed multiple times because of her own trauma, and that the comedian was even frustrated by having to give up time to call out Weinstein during last week's set.
"I'm proud that I spoke up about Harvey Weinstein that night," Bachman continues. "The overwhelming support I have received has made all of the difference, and it feels like I've somehow gotten a little bit of my lost time back."
Bachman also says that she finally has "the strength to use my voice." She's using it to ask allies to believe and stand up for survivors so that they don't have to advocate for themselves all the time, and so they don't have to be the only ones to confront rapists — regardless of the position or power held by the rapist.
"Right now it feels like I have the support of the entire world because I've spoken out against someone who most people agree is a villain," Bachman writes. "But I also feel like I could lose that support the moment I might speak out against someone who has their respect."
"I want it to become normal to name the elephant in the room," she continues, referencing her comments during last week's performance. "And I don't ever want to become comfortable sharing space with a monster."
Read her full op-ed here via the New York Times.
In the piece, Bachman explains that in the aftermath of her viral performance, the comedian felt like she hadn't said enough — a feeling she associates with the way many survivors of sexual assault feel.
Bachman details her own three rapes at ages 17, 20 and 23, lamenting the "lost time" as a result of the traumas and healing processes that follow.
She writes:
I'm tired. I'm tired of missing work because of a trauma episode. I'm tired of spending an entire week thinking about rapists instead of thinking about jokes. I'm tired of losing friends and family because of rapists. I'm tired of losing sleep because of rapists.
I wonder how many relationships, good grades, good schools, happy days, fun parties, job opportunities and even joyful moments onstage I've missed because of rapists.
Bachman admits that she feels like her comedy career has been derailed multiple times because of her own trauma, and that the comedian was even frustrated by having to give up time to call out Weinstein during last week's set.
"I'm proud that I spoke up about Harvey Weinstein that night," Bachman continues. "The overwhelming support I have received has made all of the difference, and it feels like I've somehow gotten a little bit of my lost time back."
Bachman also says that she finally has "the strength to use my voice." She's using it to ask allies to believe and stand up for survivors so that they don't have to advocate for themselves all the time, and so they don't have to be the only ones to confront rapists — regardless of the position or power held by the rapist.
"Right now it feels like I have the support of the entire world because I've spoken out against someone who most people agree is a villain," Bachman writes. "But I also feel like I could lose that support the moment I might speak out against someone who has their respect."
"I want it to become normal to name the elephant in the room," she continues, referencing her comments during last week's performance. "And I don't ever want to become comfortable sharing space with a monster."
Read her full op-ed here via the New York Times.
