Amy Schumer has said she was ‘flat-out raped’ when she was younger.
The Trainwreck star previously admitted in her autobiography, The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo, that her first sexual experience was not consensual, and she thinks she’s not alone in being subjected to unwanted advances and attention.
Speaking to Katie Couric for her Wonder Women podcast series, she said: ‘I’ve been flat-out raped.
Honest account: Amy Schumer told Katie Couric for her Wonder Women podcast series, that she was ‘flat-out raped’ when she was younger
‘But there are so many other kinds of sexual misconduct. We’ve all – every woman I know, every woman in this room – we’ve all had these experiences.
‘And in this current climate, it brings these things up and you go “God, none of that was OK”.’
The 34-year-old star stressed that sexual misconduct doesn’t have to be ‘criminal’ for it to be unacceptable.
She said: ‘If you have a doctor that makes you uncomfortable, or you get a massage, or you have a date with someone and they coerce you in a situation like the Aziz [Ansari] one, I don’t think there’s any sort of criminal charge, but I think that it’s good for everybody to learn that that behaviour’s not acceptable.
The 34-year-old star stressed that sexual misconduct doesn’t have to be ‘criminal’ for it to be unacceptable’
‘It’s not a crime, but it’s not cool. And it can still really mess with a woman.’
But Amy knows it can be a ‘hard’ conversation to assert what behaviour is uncomfortable.
However, she added: ‘We just can’t let things continue the way they’ve continued, because there are so many different levels of it.’
The Snatched star believes initiatives like the Time’s Up movement can teach men to ‘evolve’ and modify their behaviour.
She said: ‘A lot of the men in my life are open to self reflection and evolving and I am.’
Amy told Marie Claire in 2016 about the first time she had intercourse.
‘My first sexual experience was not a good one. I didn’t think about it until I started reading my journal again.
‘When it happened, I wrote about it almost like a throwaway. It was like, “And then I looked down and realized he was inside of me. He was saying, I’m so sorry’ and ‘I can’t believe I did this.”’
She continued: ‘This was 17 years ago. There are just so many factors. I had another time with a boyfriend where I was saying, “No, stop,” and it was just completely ignored.’
Amy also spoke about the allegations against her friend Aziz Ansari, who a former date named Grace recently claimed several sexual acts occurred between them even though she was ‘physically giving off cues that I wasn’t interested.’
Something to say: Amy also spoke about the allegations against her friend Aziz Ansari, who a former date named Grace recently claimed several sexual acts occurred between them even though she was ‘physically giving off cues that I wasn’t interested’
The Master of None star insisted their encounter was consensual, but Amy believes the story should show women what they don’t have to put up with.
She said: ‘I don’t think anyone wants to see Aziz’s career ruined or his life ruined or anything like that, but that’s where people’s minds go.
‘They go “Does he deserve this?” And it’s really not about that. I think it’s about expressing and showing women that that behaviour is not okay and not only can you leave, but you need to leave.
‘Because then the women who come after you, you’re leaving a mark for them too.’
She later added: ‘He’s been my friend and I really feel for the woman. I identify with all the women in these situations.
‘Even if it’s my friend, I don’t go, “Oh, but he’s a good guy.” I think, “What would it feel like to have been her?”‘
She said: ‘I don’t think anyone wants to see Aziz’s career ruined or his life ruined or anything like that, but that’s where people’s minds go’