In a heartfelt interview with Saturday Beats, she disclosed that she failed to identify the abuse she was suffering until it intensified into physical violence.
Stephen shared, “I didn’t really know it was a thing. I used to hear other women talk about it, but I didn’t think it would happen to me. I used to believe, ‘I’m a huge woman with a big body, why would anyone want to beat me?’ But it has nothing to do with your body.”
The actress described her astonishment during the initial occurrence of physical abuse, expressing, “When I got the first slap, I was shocked. What led to the slap wasn’t even worth it. I was dazed. The experience was unexpected, and I felt really bad because this was someone I trusted.”
Stephen went on to say that despite her initial skepticism, the mistreatment persisted. “This person kept beating me and humiliating me. I asked him, ‘Why do you keep doing this to me?’ and he said his friend told him that people like me need to be ‘bent’ so he could dominate me.”
Stephen emphasized that abuse transcends physical appearance and social standing, as prominent individuals frequently confront their own undisclosed challenges.
She explained, “Though many people think that public figures don’t have problems, the reverse is the case.”
Some individuals, she observed, perceive celebrities as targets, particularly those who seek romantic relationships with hidden agendas.