*On Monday, Sept. 24, the ladies of The Real discussed the trending #WhyIDidntReport hashtag, and for the very first time on the show, co-host Jeannie Mai tells her own story.
Journalist and White House Correspondent April Ryan visits to discuss the state of the union, as well as her newly published book, Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House. She talks about how the current allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh are affecting the day-to-day goings on in the White House and reveals the truth about how she learned former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman was ousted from her job.
Later, the stars of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, Princess Love and Ray J drop by to show off their baby, Melody, and chat about their new special, Love & Hip Hop Hollywood: Ray J. & Princess’ Labor of Love. Princess Love has some news for her husband and the two discuss their future on LHHH.
April Ryan Says The Current Kavanaugh Allegations Are “Rocking” The White House
April Ryan’s Reaction To Omarosa’s Interview With Loni Love
Princess Love Has Some News For Ray J!
Princess Love and Ray J Debut Baby Melody and Discuss Their LHHH Future
Jeannie Tells Her Own #WhyIDidntReport Story For The First Time
Jeannie Mai: As a person who was sexually assaulted as at a young age by somebody very close to me, I remember the trifecta that I would continuously process, which is, “Fear, Anger, Shame, Fear, Anger Shame.” Fear: What’s going to happen to our family if I say something, and out this person. Anger: Why did you just sit there, why did you let this go on for four years? What’s wrong with you?
Loni Love: How old were you when this happened?
Jeannie: I was nine and it went on until I was about 12. 13, 13.
Loni: And you didn’t tell anybody?
Jeannie: I didn’t tell anybody because this was somebody I really cared about. And there’s a little bit of a Stockholm Syndrome in there too, because if somebody who’s a stranger did it to me – oh, I’d know what to do! I know how to wile out! I got that down! But when it’s somebody you trust, somebody you know that you actually… are supposed to love or believe in? You just freeze. And so it went on for four years. And-and then, you know, two years later, I found the strength to say something. But if it took me two years or it took me 20 years, it does not invalidate what happened to me!
Loni: That’s right!
[The Real audience applauds]
Adrienne Houghton: Jeannie, in your case, you said it was a family member?
Jeannie: Yeah.
Adrienne: So I think that for many people is really hard because you don’t want to hurt your other family members, especially I think sometimes even your parents, you’re like if it’s someone from their family and then that puts guilt on them, you almost try to protect your parents in the sense of like, you don’t want them to feel bad that they put you in harm’s way ‘cause it was someone from their family.
Loni: Right.
Jeannie: Yes!
Adrienne: You know what I’m saying?
Loni: It’s guilt and it’s embarrassment.
Adrienne: You’re protecting your parents, ‘cause you – there’s so many things tied to it, but I think it’s so important that this hashtag is out there and that people are speaking up about it because it encourages others to do it and I think that sometimes if you can put it past, it’s not just about you, but you actually could be saving someone else from going through the same thing.
[The Real audience applauds]
Adrienne: When you speak up.
Adrienne: You sharing that story is going to help somebody else today, and I just want to commend you because I know that’s not easy. It’s not easy to do in private, so I can’t imagine how that is to do publicly on national television.
Jeannie: Thank you.
Adrienne: So you are helping a young girl watching this right now that hopefully will speak out –
Jeannie: Absolutely. Thank you.
Adrienne: What would you say to her?
Jeannie (to Tamera): I applaud you. I applaud you here. For listening. For the friends that listen and say “Did you say something?” Ask questions more on how you feel and encourage them constantly that “This is your voice, this is your place to say something.” I hope you don’t – I know you’re not going to let go of that friend, but –
Tamera Mowry-Housley: Oh, yeah.
Jeannie: There’s always time for her to come out and say something. And I would tell to that girl, “I’m on the other side. I’m on the other side where I am stronger, because I learned how to flex that muscle, I learned how to use my voice.” That’s why I’m probably so crazy and maybe I went too far now being too confident in where I am, but it takes you there to a place where you are not a survivor, you’re triumphant, because you have a voice.
Loni: That’s right.
[The Real audience applauds]
Jeannie: So use it.
Please include tune-in when posting clips — Sept 24th on The Real — check local listings.
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Photo credit: Robert Voets/Warner Bros. Television
About The Real
Led by bold, diverse and outspoken Emmy Award-winning hosts, Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley all frankly say what women are actually thinking. THE REAL is a live daily, one-hour NAACP Image Award-winning and Emmy-nominated talk show on Fox Television Stations and in national syndication (check local listings), with a rebroadcast on cable network Bounce. The hosts’ unique perspectives are brought to life through candid conversations about their personal lives, current events, beauty, fashion and relationships (nothing is off limits). Unlike other talk shows, THE REAL hosts are admittedly a “work in progress,” and fearlessly invite viewers to reflect on their own lives and opinions. Fresh points of view, youthful energy and passion have made THE REAL a platform for multicultural women. Produced by Telepictures Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, The Real is led by Executive Producer, Rachel Miskowiec (Good Morning America, Katie, The Tyra in Los Angeles, California.
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