Sheryl Underwood And Carrie Ann Inaba Open Up About Their Painful Past

Hey there, friends. Let's dive into a conversation that's both raw and powerful. In the wake of the explosive documentary Leaving Neverland, which brought forward shocking allegations against the late Michael Jackson, the ladies of The Talk had a lot to unpack on a recent episode. On Tuesday, March 5, cohosts Sheryl Underwood and Carrie Ann Inaba shared their deeply personal stories of surviving childhood sexual abuse and how they managed to heal and move forward.

Sheryl Underwood's Journey to Forgiveness

Sheryl, who's now 55, bravely opened up about the trauma she endured as a child and how she had to forgive her mother to survive emotionally. "I was sexually abused as a child, and I had no choice but to forgive my mom," she explained. "She seemed resistant to taking any responsibility or feeling that she could have done something to protect me. But I had no other option. I had to forgive her so I could survive, move on, and heal." That's some heavy stuff right there.

Living with her mom at the time made the process incredibly tough. "It was really hard," Sheryl admitted. "I needed her to understand that she wasn't at fault in the situation." She explained how her father initially didn’t want to hear the details, but later became instrumental in helping her move past the trauma. "What allowed me to move on was my dad saying, 'I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, and I’m sorry I didn’t protect my child. I should have listened to you.' That acknowledgment was crucial. People often don’t witness abuse because it’s meant to be hidden. When you tell someone, you’re the liar. But thank God my dad came around just in time for me to mentally survive this."

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Carrie Ann Inaba's Story of Healing

Meanwhile, Carrie Ann, the 51-year-old Dancing With the Stars judge, shared a similar yet distinct journey. She talked about forgiving her own mother for not being there for her during a crucial time when she needed support the most. "At the start of my healing, when you begin to recognize what you've been through, you crave that apology," Carrie Ann revealed. "I wasn’t believed by my mom at first, and that made me so angry. Why wasn’t she believing me? It made me feel incredibly alone."

Carrie Ann went on to say that her mom should have noticed what was happening but was distracted by the people around her. "I get it now," she added. "But at the time, it was painful not having her support." Both women are shining examples of resilience and strength. Their willingness to share their stories is incredibly inspiring and could help countless others who might be going through similar experiences.

Strength Through Sharing

Sheryl and Carrie Ann have shown us that healing is possible, even after enduring unimaginable pain. Their stories remind us that forgiveness, whether for others or ourselves, is a crucial part of moving forward. Hopefully, their openness will inspire others to seek the help they need and know they’re not alone in their struggles.