Anthony Edwards details his experience of sexual assault in candid essay

Former Er star Anthony Edwards has gone public with allegations suggesting he was molested by writer/producer Gary Goddard when he was a child.
Edwards shared his side of the story in a candid essay published on Medium.com on Friday (10Nov17), claiming he was just 12 years old when he first met the Broadway producer.
He credits Goddard, now 63, with teaching him “the value of acting”, but claims the veteran took advantage of the close friendship he shared with Edwards and another young actor.
“Everyone has the need to bond, and I was no exception,” he wrote. “My vulnerability was exploited. I was molested by Goddard, my best friend was raped by him – and this went on for years. The group of us, the gang, stayed quiet.”
Edwards, now 55, admits he was in denial about the alleged abuse for years, and it was only when he crossed paths with Goddard at an airport 22 years ago that he was able to stand up and confront him about their reportedly ugly past.
“I was able to express my outrage at what he had done,” Edwards explained. “He swore to his remorse and said that he had gotten help. I felt a temporary sense of relief. I say temporary because when Goddard appeared in the press four years ago for alleged sexual abuse, my rage resurfaced. At 51 years old, I was directed by a group of loving friends to a therapist who specializes in this kind of abuse.”
The recent accusations of sexual abuse the actor referred to involved two teen males, who filed suit in 2014. One of the lawsuits, brought by Michael Egan, related to an alleged encounter in 1999, but he subsequently dropped the court action.
Edwards, now 55, continued, “Only after I was able to separate my experience, process it, and put it in its place could I accept this truth: My abuse may always be with me, but it does not own me.”
He concluded, “I did not go from being a victim to a survivor alone. No one does. I had to ask for help, and I am so grateful that I did.”
Goddard’s representative has yet to issue a statement regarding the accusations, pending the producer’s return from his travels.
Edwards is the latest star to come forward with personal experiences of sexual abuse or harassment since producer Harvey Weinstein was first exposed for his alleged bad behaviour in an initial New York Times article in early October (17). Actresses who have accused the movie mogul of sexual misconduct include Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashley Judd.