(CNN) The news has been filled with stories of prominent men accused of sexual misconduct -- many of the alleged misdeeds going back decades.

Though the circumstances are different in each case, the same question keeps coming up: Why did the accusers wait so long to come forward?

Some who came forward explained their reasons for waiting. In other cases, the treatment accusers endured after coming forward made their reasons apparent. Here are a few examples:

Their names are dragged through the mud

While examples abound of accusers' credibility coming under question, Italian actress and filmmaker Asia Argento's case was particularly extreme.

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