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Presenter Lewis Nicholls has revealed he was sexually assaulted 12 years ago by two men in their fifties.
After years of trying to hide his shame, the 32-year-old bravely spoke out about the harrowing ordeal in an Instagram video, posted on Wednesday night.
Lewis, who didn’t report the assault to police at the time, said he now feels the confidence to share his story after going through therapy.
The presenter, who hosts The Lewis Nicholl Show on YouTube where he does in-depth interviews with reality stars, actors, and public figures, said: ‘Hello everyone, this is the most nervous I’ve been to ever do a video but it’s something that I’ve waited for a very long time to do and explain something that happened to me.
’12 years ago, I was sexually assaulted by two men who were well in their fifties. It was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I didn’t go to the police at the time. I just acted like nothing had happened.
‘I was given a drink. That drink obviously had something in it. I then woke up to – I don’t want to go into detail – but you can obviously put two and two together.
‘As soon as that happened, I managed to get out of the location I was in and I wanted to act like nothing happened. I went home, put my clothes in the wheelie bin and I just wanted to forget.
‘I even went to work the next day. For quite some time I was able to almost forget it did happen. It’s weird, I just put this block because I felt so much shame. I felt shame, I felt weak. As a man it was a weird sense of emotion and I put it in the back of my mind. I almost like locked it in a box and then about two years after that it really affected me.’
Lewis went on to say the trauma made him struggle with intimacy, relationships and even needing to keep the light on.
He went on: ‘I had locked it in a box and pretended it didn’t happen. Then I realised how much it shaped my life.
‘I reached out some years ago to the NHS and for male rape survivors, they offered really good sessions. From that, it changed everything.’
The presenter said it gave him the strength to tell his family, friends and work colleagues what had happened.
He added he now feels the courage to publicly speak out after seeing others share their stories.
He concluded: ‘I don’t feel scared, I feel strong and proud of myself. I got the help. It’s not defining my life’.
Lewis’ followers wrote commended the presenter for showing ‘great courage’ in talking about the horrifying assault.
They wrote: ‘You are so brave Lewis… This took great courage to tell us about it… proud of you sharing it
You’ll inspire someone else who is afraid to speak out and get help. I admire your strength mate. Lots of love x’;
‘very brave for speaking out, always thinking of ways to support others. Hold your head high and be proud of who you are and your strength’.
