Melissa Benoist reveals "I am a survivor of domestic violence"

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https://www.eonline.com/news/1097790...personal-video

In a 14-minute Instagram video posted today, Benoist revealed graphic details of the abuse she received from a perpetrator whom she doesn't name. "I am a survivor of domestic violence or IPV (intimate partner violence), which is something I never in my life expected I would say, let alone be broadcasting into the ether," she said, before describing her abuser. "He was a magnanimous person, who didn't really give you a choice not to be drawn to him. He could be charming, funny, manipulative, devious." Benoist added: "The stark truth is I learned what it felt like to be pinned down and slapped repeatedly, punched so hard the wind was knocked out of me, dragged by my hair across pavement, head butted, pinched until my skin broke, shoved into a wall so hard the drywall broke, choked," she said. "I learned to lock myself in rooms but quickly stopped because the door was inevitably broken down. I learned to not value any of my property—replaceable and irreplaceable. I learned not to value myself."

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Blake Jenner apologizes, confirms Melissa Benoist's domestic abuse allegations

Last November, Supergirl star Benoist posted a video revealing "I am a survivor of domestic violence." Jenner, who met Benoist on the set of Glee and who was married to her from 2015 to 2017, issued a lengthy apology Thursday on Instagram. “I take full responsibility and accountability for the hurt that I inflicted during my relationship with my past partner–emotionally, mentally and yes, physically,” he wrote, confirming her allegation that he did throw a phone at her. However, the actor also accused Benoist of abusing him while they were together, saying that she “isolated” him from loved ones throughout their relationship and at one point broke his nose. “I was scratched. I was slapped. I was punched in the face, which caused a trip to the hospital to treat my broken nose,” he wrote. “I, too, have had to conceal and make up lies about many visible injuries I had incurred throughout the relationship.” In his post, Jenner goes on to claim that “without absolving myself of any responsibility, it’s important to understand that there was mental, emotional and physical abuse inflicted on both ends.” Jenner claims that he "was made to pass on numerous jobs and opportunities because of jealousy of prospective female co-stars," adding that he "was discouraged from and threatened not to develop relationships with and take photos with female co-stars at professional events." He adds: "I was made to feel guilty for working as I received calls from my former partner while I was away, threatening to self-harm out of depression and a deep-seated fear of abandonment," he claims, adding that he was scratched, slapped and "punched in the face, which caused a trip to the hospital to treat my broken nose...I, too, have had to conceal and make up lies about many visible injuries I had incurred throughout the relationship. I was physically assaulted in the shower, leaving me with a traumatic injury that I do not want to delve into at this time." Jenner concluded his statement with an apology to Benoist. "I wish you and your family nothing but good health, joy and love," he wrote.