Evan Rachel Wood explains why she’s had to remain silent (Picture: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Evan Rachel Wood has explained why she’s had to remain silent about her sexual attack, which she spoke publicly about for the first time last year.

The Westworld actress, 30, posted a lengthy clip online explaining why she hasn’t named the ‘very powerful, very rich, very entitled, very narcissistic white men’ who abused her, and put it in part down to fear.

Evan revealed last year she had been assaulted by two separate attackers, one an ex boyfriend and one she has called a ‘bar owner’, and explained it took her seven years to come to terms with what happened.



Although she didn’t name the men, she did say she had walked out of ceremonies when they’ve won awards.


In the video, she said she had remained silent because of the ‘power’ the men have, and said she didn’t speak out because she wasn’t ready to relive the trauma of what had happened to her.

She said: ‘I haven’t named my abusers for a number of reasons. One, I’m one person against some very powerful people.

Evan released the video asking women to speak up (Picture: YoutTube)

‘Two: money and time and retraumatising yourself, go after the person who assaulted you takes quite a toll.’

She went on to say: ‘It’s a terrifying thing to go through, mainly because you are at the risk of not being believed, your career being hurt, you being drained of your finances because it costs a lot of money to file a lawsuit and go to court with someone, especially if all you have is your word against theirs.’

She added: ‘And especially if these are very powerful people.’

The actress said speaking out would have been ‘kicking the hornet’s nest’, but revealed that she had identified her attackers to friends and family.

‘The fact that women are not able to name their abusers is not their fault,’ she said. ‘If the victim is not ready you cannot fight that battle for them.’

Evan went on to encourage victims to name their attackers, and for these people to be ostracised.

‘I’m here to tell you I’m afraid, and I don’t think that’s my fault,’ she said.

If you’ve been affected by anything mentioned in this story, contact Rapecrisis.org.uk on 0808 802 999 or go to rapecrisis.org.uk

MORE: Seth MacFarlane explains ‘anger’ led to Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment joke in 2013

MORE: Rita Ora ‘horrified’ at Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment allegations: ‘I respect the women who spoke out’