- Jessica Simpson revealed that she was sexually abused as a child in her new memoir, Open Book.
- Simpson said that the trauma led to a battle with anxiety, and that she self-medicated with alcohol and stimulants.
- Today, Simpson is sober and takes care of her mental health with therapy, a team of doctors, and the support of her family.
For the first time ever, Jessica Simpson is opening up about traumatic experiences from her childhood. In her new memoir, Open Book, the 39-year-old mother of three revealed that she was sexually abused as a child, which spurred years of emotional trauma and addiction.
The abuse began when Simpson was just 6 years old, when the actress shared a bed with the daughter of a family friend, People reported. “It would start with tickling my back and then go into things that were extremely uncomfortable,” she wrote in the memoir.
Simpson kept the abuse to herself for years out of fear. “I wanted to tell my parents,” she wrote. “I was the victim but somehow I felt in the wrong.” It wasn’t until she was 12 that she decided to come forward with the truth. “Dad kept his eye on the road and said nothing. We never stayed at my parents’ friends house again but we also didn’t talk about what I had said,” she wrote.
As a result, the singer developed anxiety from her suppressed trauma and began to self-medicate with alcohol and stimulants. “I was killing myself with all the drinking and pills,” she wrote, adding that her doctor warned her that her life was in danger. Pressures of her career only worsened her substance abuse, as she coped with the pressures of fame and heartbreak following her divorce from Nick Lachey in 2006.
Simpson had a wake up call in 2017 when she hit rock bottom at a Halloween party. “I need to stop. Something’s got to stop. And if it’s the alcohol that’s doing this, and making things worse, then I quit,” she recalled to her friends at the time. Simpson immediately vowed sober, and hasn’t had a drink since. “Giving up the alcohol was easy,” she told People. “I was mad at that bottle. At how it allowed me to stay complacent and numb.”
“When I finally said I needed help, it was like I was that little girl that found her calling again in life,” she said. “I found direction and that was to walk straight ahead with no fear.”
Today, Simpson refers to her sobriety as “a continual gift” and takes care of her mental health with therapy, a team of doctors, and the support of her family. Although the star didn’t feel ready to open up about her life, Open Book has lifted a weight off of her shoulders.
“With this book, I want the freedom to say, ‘Well, there are no more secrets,’” she told People. “Honesty is hard. But it’s the most rewarding thing we have. And getting to the other side of fear is beautiful.
If you or someone you know needs help or has been affected by sexual assault, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 741741 to message with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free.
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Currently an assistant editor at Prevention.com, Nicol is a Manhattan-based journalist who specializes in health, wellness, beauty, fashion, business, and lifestyle. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Houston Chronicle, Business Insider, INSIDER, Everyday Health, and more. When Nicol isn't writing, she loves trying new workout classes, testing out the latest face mask, and traveling. Follow her on Instagram for the latest on health, wellness, and lifestyle.
