Madonna Was Rape Victim; Opens Up To Harper's Bazaar in Horrifying Essay

Madonna was a rape victim in her early days in New York City, according to a frightening essay she wrote for Harper’s Bazaar.

Madonna’s rape essay made headlines on Friday as she recounted the horrifying memory from her early New York City days.

In a guest essay for Harper’s Bazaar, Madonna is straightforward about her experiences when she moved from Rochester, Mich., to New York City. She says she was raped at knifepoint on the roof of a building.

Madonna writes "New York wasn't everything I thought it would be. It did not welcome me with open arms. The first year, I was held up at gunpoint. Raped on the roof of a building I was dragged up to with a knife in my back, and had my apartment broken into three times."

Madonna first talked about the rape when she was promoting her book “Sex” in 1995. In an interview with London's New Musical Express she said "In a way it was a real eye-opening experience. I'd only lived in New York for a year and I was very young, very trusting of people." Madonna said the experience made her "much more street smart and savvy."

Madonna’s rape account was revisited again in a 2007 biography by Lucy O'Brien called "Like and Icon." In the book it was revealed that Madonna was forced to perform fellatio at knifepoint.

The Harper Bazaar essay was published online on Friday. Madonna also talks about her longtime desire to be known as a risk taker. The pop icon also and explains why she chose the title "Truth or Dare" for her 1991 documentary, saying "It's a fun game to play if you're in the mood to take risks, and usually I am."

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world news
Madonna
rape victim
New York City
Harper’s Bazaar
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