How Mariska Hargitay’s Husband Supported Her After Sexual Assault

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Mariska Hargitay has a partner she can always count on.

Approximately a year following the initial disclosure by the “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” star about being raped in her 30s, she subsequently shared that it was her spouse, Peter Hermann, who aided her in coping with the distressing event.

In the latest episode of “Call Her Daddy,” I, Mariska, shared a personal revelation about sexual assault. Many people, including myself, often find ourselves questioning our own actions and feelings in these situations. For me, I couldn’t comprehend why I couldn’t escape it. However, I’ve managed to extricate myself from numerous other challenging circumstances through the use of my intelligence, humor, and quick thinking. But this time was different.

She went on, “I was unable to escape from it. It dwelled within me, which led me to self-blame. Eventually, it all became crystal clear to me what transpired.

For quite some time, the 63-year-old woman hid the truth from her husband Peter, whom she married in 2004, about the incident that had occurred. Only later did she confess to him.

Mariska recounted that she had told her husband something to which he responded by appearing surprised, saying “Mariska, you claimed you’ve never experienced sexual assault, but you have.” She admitted that this encounter helped her comprehend the concept of denial and disassociation.

Despite finding it challenging to accept the assault at first, she shared with host Alex Cooper, “I appreciate the aspect of me that protected me, the part that held off dealing with it, saying ‘You’re not prepared yet.’

She continued, “It’s not about assigning blame. Instead, let’s focus on strengthening ourselves. We need to prepare, both internally and externally. This means creating a supportive structure within us, as well as seeking help from others, so we can feel confident that our voices will be heard, understood, and that the moment will be opportune.

The award-winning actress feels that viewers might subconsciously associate the character of Detective Olivia Benson, whom she’s portrayed for more than two decades in “SVU,” with herself. This association may lead them to assume that “such incidents could never occur in her real life.

She countered, “Well, guess what? It did and there was nothing I could do about it.”

Mariska, who has August (age 18), Amaya (age 14), and Andrew (age 13) with Peter, disclosed that she needed to comprehend “the impact of trauma on our cells” and “how the body stores memories” in order to discuss the topic openly.

Eventually, she was ready to pen her emotional essay in People last January, detailing the rape.

She shared with Alex that she felt liberated by her decision, as if it were a precious gift. There was neither embarrassment nor taboo attached, nor any trace of fear. The journey towards acceptance had been her own, and she was now at peace with it. She expressed immense joy about it.

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2025-06-25 23:46