Tyrese Gibson’s ex-wife Norma Mitchell has opened up on the abuse she suffered while married to him.The ex couple who met in 2002,married in 2007 and slit 10 months later ,are having a bitter custody battle over their 7-year-old daughter, Shayla.Tyrese tried to stop her from taking their daughter on a trip to visit her family in Isreal.He eared she wouldn’t return,but the courts ruled in her favour, asking her to go and return in two weeks…She opened up to MadameNoire
On Being Abused Her During Their Marriage
Yes, there was [physical and emotional abuse in my marriage]. Definitely. If you have this conversation with many women, they can tell you the exact same thing. Sometimes it’s so covert that you don’t know it’s happening until it’s happening..
I felt so irresponsible at that moment because I wasn’t taking responsibility as a woman and using my voice to perhaps alleviate those blows. It starts with words and then it becomes physical, but the words are what linger. The physical abuse heals quickly, but the emotional keeps coming back because you’re so unsure of yourself.
A lot of men with money and more power, especially with passive women, are using the legal system to abuse these women. Then they can point the finger and say, ‘Look at her, she’s crazy,’ because one day you just explode and can’t take it anymore.”
On Why She is Speaking Out now
Seven years [of silence] is long enough. It’s not in my nature to try to harm someone else. I’ve always tried my best to keep it moving and keep to myself, but I’ve also become very aware that there are other women out there who are going through similar situations.
“There are a lot of women who are going through what I’m going through and they simply don’t have the resources to help them move forward and overcome the things that they’re going through.
I will do my best to make it known that emotional violence, verbal abuse and mental abuse is something serious and it happens to many women. A lot of men are using the legal system to control women and to put them in a state of fear. A few of the things that have happened to me that I know have happened to other women is being followed and surveyed. That’s not something fun. It makes you anxious. You know, just provoking you and harassing you with emails. That overwhelms women and it puts you in a fear state.I just have come to a point where I felt that I really want to have a voice and speak up for myself. It’s been a long time that I have been going through this and I just want to move on and move forward
