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In a society where male vulnerability is often stigmatized, survivors of childhood and adult sexual abuse face unique obstacles in coming forward. And there are far greater men who have been sexually abused than most people realize. In fact, studies show that at least 1 in 6 men experience some form of sexual abuse in their lifetimes, as the aptly-named organization 1in6.org points out.
Yet over the past several decades, a growing number of men, some of them well-known celebrities, others not as conspicuous in the spotlight, have spoken publicly about their trauma to shatter the myth that sexual abuse only affects women. These voices matter not just because of who they are, but because their courage sends a signal to other men that they, too, can step out of the shadows.
The Olympic Gymnastics Scandal: Survivors Who Refused to Stay Silent
When dozens of elite female gymnasts testified against former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, the story made international headlines. Less well known is that several male gymnasts were also sexually abused by Nassar, including adult male athletes and trainers. The bravery of survivors like Jacob Moore, who spoke publicly about his abuse by Nassar when he was still a minor, helped broaden the narrative and challenge the gendered assumptions about who can be a victim.
Michael Jackson Allegations: A Polarizing Case with Lasting Impact
In 2019, the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland reignited debate about Michael Jackson’s relationships with underage boys. The film focused on Wade Robson and James Safechuck, both of whom alleged they were groomed and abused by the singer over several years. Though the Jackson estate denied the allegations, the documentary gave a powerful platform to male survivors, reminding the public that the charisma or fame of an alleged abuser can obscure horrific truths.
After being dismissed and revived multiple times, a California appeals court ruled in 2023 that Safechuck’s and Wade Robson’s lawsuits against Jackson’s companies could proceed to a jury trial. Their lawsuits were consolidated into one case in 2024, with a trial proposed for November 2026.
A March 2025 profile on Safechuck in The Times (UK) asks the survivor what justice would look like for him. He responded, “Justice is in the fight….. Justice is having the agency to fight for yourself. Knowing I did everything I could and speaking as loud as I can.” Safechuck added, “I’m not in control of the outcome. So that part you have to let go as much as possible. The justice is in the fight itself.”
Terry Crews and Anthony Edwards: Challenging Misconceptions About Masculinity
Actor and former NFL player Terry Crews (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) stunned Hollywood when he revealed he had been groped by a powerful agent–Adam Venit of William Morris Endeavor–at a party. Despite his imposing physique and status, Crews said he felt powerless at the time and feared professional retaliation if he spoke up. According to the New York Times, “Venit represented some of Hollywood’s most well-known actors, including Emma Stone, Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Dustin Hoffman and Eddie Murphy.”
In the immediate aftermath of the initial reporting of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse/assault allegations, Crews publicly revealed in a series of tweets (as outlined by Vulture here) that he had also been a victim of sexual misconduct. Initially, he tried to suppress the memory, but when the Weinstein allegations surfaced, it triggered what he described as PTSD. “This exact thing happened to me,” he said in a later interview, adding that it helped him understand why so many survivors remain silent. Crews credited his wife for preventing him from reacting violently in the moment, saying he felt like he could have “punched a hole” in the head of his perpetrator, Venit, who was subsequently suspended by William Morris. Crews’ goal in speaking out, he said, was to deter other predators and encourage anyone feeling hopeless to come forward.
Similarly, Top Gun and ER actor Anthony Edwards disclosed in a 2017 essay titled, “Yes Mom, There is Something Wrong,” that he was molested for years by a trusted family friend and industry mentor, the Hollywood producer Gary Goddard. In the his essay, Edwards described how his emotional vulnerability, shaped in part by a distant father, made him susceptible to grooming. He explained how shame, secrecy, and the misguided belief that love must be earned kept him silent for decades. Through therapy and support from fellow survivors, Edwards was able to process his pain and understand that his past does not define him. He emphasizes that healing is possible, and that no survivor should feel alone in their journey. Edwards serves on the board of 1in6, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting men who have experienced sexual abuse or assault.
Both Crews and Edwards have emphasized that strength is not measured by silence, and that speaking up is an act of reclaiming power. They are far from the only celebrities who have come forward. But their testimonies demonstrate that abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of appearance, status, or physical strength.
Other Male Celebrities Who Have Revealed They Were Abused
Brendan Fraser
In 2018, The Mummy movie series actor Brendan Fraser revealed he was groped in 2003 by the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk. Fraser said the incident left him feeling humiliated and contributed to a long period of depression. “I became reclusive,” he told GQ. “I felt like something had been taken away from me.”
Ultimately, Fraser decided to come forward. “I spoke up because I saw so many of my friends and colleagues who, at that time, were bravely emerging to speak their truth to power,” Fraser told CBS News’ Lee Cowan at the time.
Corey Feldman
Child actor and star of the iconic 1980s film, The Goonies, Corey Feldman, has spoken out for years about the abuse he suffered in Hollywood. He claims both he and fellow actor Corey Haim, who died in 2010 of suspected drug abuse, were repeatedly abused by powerful men in the industry.
Feldman’s 2020 documentary, My Truth: The Rape of 2 Coreys, exposed systemic abuse in Hollywood and the culture of silence surrounding it. One of Feldman’s alleged perpetrators was the actor Jon Grissom, who was arrested in 2001 for child molestation charges in an unrelated case. Found guilty of the crime in 2003, Grissom served time in prison. Feldman also named manager Marty Weiss and Alphy Hoffman. In 2012, Weiss entered a no-contest plea to two counts of committing lewd acts on a child (not Feldman) under the age of 14. Hoffman, the son of the casting director, Bobby Hoffman, ran Alphy’s Soda Pop Club in Hollywood from 1986 to 1989. The club was described as exclusive and private for actors under 16 working in film and television, which included a dance floor and unlimited soda.
In a 2023 Newsweek profile, Feldman said that the rejection of his self-financed documentary My Truth: The Rape of 2 Coreys caused him severe emotional distress and PTSD, exacerbating the trauma from his childhood abuse. To cope, Feldman returned to trauma therapy for the first time in nearly two decades and leaned heavily on his faith, music, and family. He described this period as darker than the original abuse itself due to the gaslighting and backlash he faced. The article also recounts a 2013 interview on The View when the now-deceased Barbara Walters dismissed Feldman’s warning about powerful abusers in Hollywood, accusing him of “damaging an entire industry.” Feldman later described Walters’ comment as an example of harmful victim-shaming, noting how normalized it once was in media to silence or discredit survivors.
The Catholic Church Crisis: Voices from the Clergy and the Congregation
James Faluszczak, a former Catholic priest, survivor, and whistleblower, testified before the 40th Pennsylvania Statewide Investigating Grand Jury in 2016, providing the names of over 100 individuals connected to clergy sexual abuse. He exposed systemic abuse and cover-ups within the Dioceses of Erie, Pennsylvania, and Buffalo, New York, detailing not only his own abuse by Monsignor Daniel J. Martin and grooming by other priests, but also the structural mechanisms the Catholic Church used to perpetuate abuse. “Manipulation and coercion are constitutive elements of formation in seminary and priestly life,” he wrote, rejecting the Church’s claim that abuse is accidental or isolated.
Faluszczak said he was harassed and retaliated against by the Church for his testimony and has since dedicated himself to helping law enforcement and attorneys pursue justice. He holds proprietary files on nearly every diocese in the U.S., offering critical data for legal cases, including perpetrator histories and cover-up patterns. Denied his own legal redress due to Pennsylvania’s limited lookback window, Faluszczak now serves as an investigative researcher and advocate, urging other survivors: “If not publicly, then at least to a therapist, and to oneself gently.”
–> Learn more about Catholic Church Sexual Abuse with SurvivorsRights.com’s report.
Penn State and the Sandusky Survivors: A National Awakening
The 2011 indictment of Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on dozens of counts of child sexual abuse sent shockwaves across the country. Most of Sandusky’s victims were preteen or teenage boys he met through a nonprofit he founded for at-risk youth. Among the survivors was Matthew Sandusky, Jerry’s adopted son, who came forward publicly during the trial to disclose that he, too, had been abused. Several other survivors testified in court, leading to Jerry Sandusky’s conviction and a 30- to 60-year prison sentence. The fallout led to the firing of Penn State’s legendary head coach Joe Paterno and other top administrators. The case revealed not only the long-term cover-up of abuse but also the deep psychological wounds carried by male victims, many of whom had felt dismissed, ignored, or silenced for years.
Matthew Sandusky later founded the Peaceful Hearts Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and raising awareness about the long-term impact of trauma. Through advocacy and education, the foundation seeks to break the silence surrounding male sexual abuse and promote healing.
From Shame to Advocacy: Survivors Who Chose to Speak Up
Not every male survivor who comes forward is famous. But when public figures share their stories, they pave the way for countless others to recognize their own trauma and consider speaking out. These men are not defined by what happened to them. They are defined by what they chose to do with the pain. From joining legislative efforts to advocating for longer statutes of limitations, male survivors are now taking the lead in reshaping how sexual abuse is understood, treated, and prevented.
It takes immense courage to speak out about sexual abuse. For male survivors, the challenge is often magnified by societal expectations around masculinity, strength, and emotional suppression. But change is happening. From gymnasiums to courtrooms, from Hollywood sets to religious sanctuaries, men are no longer staying silent. Their stories remind us that healing begins with truth and that no survivor should ever feel alone.
A Call To Action For Male Survivors
If you’re a male survivor of institutional sexual abuse (such as from a church, school, sports program, foster care system, or juvenile detention facility), you are not alone. SurvivorsRights.com may help connect you with experienced sexual abuse attorneys in the state where the abuse occurred. You can begin the process by requesting a free, confidential case review below.