Thank you for writing this.The precise way that you have unpicked the word ‘troubled’ and its’ application to victims of sexual abuse is brilliant and absolutely correct. The death of Virginia Giuffre is tragic and preventable. The lies and dismissal by the powerful men who trafficked and abused her are familiar and so depressing. May she finally have some peace.
I didn't know Virginia had died until I read this and despite not knowing her, I feel sick and saddened that she was so badly treated by so many people. I experienced abuse as a younger woman and it sits there like a dead weight deep inside decades later. When it happened to me, at the time I blamed myself for not protecting myself 'better' but not any longer. Such sad news and my heart goes out to her children.
Brave , articulate and heartfelt reporting Leah. My heart sank again today reading your piece. We all need to delete “troubled” from our vocabulary in story telling about children and teens who have to fight for any level of sanity and safety after familial and criminal exploitation. That’s not troubled, that’s survival.
Another great piece Leah and you’re quite right. I’m listening to John Sweeney’s book about Ghislaine Maxwell at the moment and “born into a troubled world” could easily describe her too (NB this isn’t an apology for her behaviour)
Very powerful piece Leah and a great defence for women like Virgina. And you are spelling it out in clear sight. I could apply this logic to any number of the women who were abused within my dad's 'spiritual' community. It starts with neglect, and continues on and on, and I am also not sure that being in the public eye offers any real relief or empowerment. Although I do think writing offers a way out - because it is totally in your control as the narrative of your experience, and cannot be warped by editors or newspaper reporters. But I guess she didn't get that far to consider it. I just noticed some Financial Times journalist wrote a book about her - I wonder if it is chasing the scandal, or it had her consent. Interesting it's written by a man. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Virginia-Giuffre-Extraordinary-Millionaires-Ghislaine/dp/1783341904
The fact that she became an unwilling public crusader in a fight she didn’t start or want while at the same time suffering an abusive marriage and raising three children is such colossal injustice and a testament to her strength. And it’s not an uncommon story, it’s just a visible one. What a heroine.
She violated a temporary restraining order put in place for her children's safety after she assaulted her ex-husband. It would have been up in June originally, and she still would have had a hearing on June 11. Whether she was killed by her own hand or the Mossad's, it's a tragedy, but the casual smearing of her ex-husband—her three children's only remaining parent—is unwarranted and uncouth.
her childhood, and then labelled in such a way to somehow further excuse the predators. Words are so important and this is a profound article in exposing how words themselves become another weapon. thank you, (another John Sweeney)
Virginia’s death is so profoundly sad. She was failed by society and the adults around her. I can’t help but feel her suicide marks the end of the Me Too era and shows where we are in the culture now; with a misogynist accused of sexual assault as president, and the cultural discourse swinging far back to the sexism, ‘Trad Wife’ values and misogyny we thought we’d left behind
My feelings are.that she was driven to take her own life, deliberately isolated from her family and left vulnerable , there are means by which private security companies can easily force a victim to take her own life. The use of microwave weapons are now past development many years ago, these weapons are horrendous as I have been targeted by them.
It certainly was convenient for her removal , a lady with.many secrets of the rich and powerful we
She was murdered. Let’s focus on the real culprits instead of Trump innuendo.JEFFREY EPSTEIN, BILL CLINTON, BILL GATES, PRINCE ANDREWS, LEON BLACK, LARRY SUMMERS, ALAN DERSHOWITZ,
How very sad. I like every one else, thought she had escaped Epstein’s carnalia. I’m saddened to learn that she just traded one nightmare for another. There was no happy ending here, just a lesson for us all.
Thankyou Leah, for clearly stating the fact that it is indeed a troubled world and not troubled children.
As adults we are then supposed to exist, carrying those troubles, as if somehow they don’t bear weight.
In my experience, it’s heavy.
That it is. And you are not your experience, however much you have suffered. Nor are you alone.
Thank you for writing this.The precise way that you have unpicked the word ‘troubled’ and its’ application to victims of sexual abuse is brilliant and absolutely correct. The death of Virginia Giuffre is tragic and preventable. The lies and dismissal by the powerful men who trafficked and abused her are familiar and so depressing. May she finally have some peace.
I didn't know Virginia had died until I read this and despite not knowing her, I feel sick and saddened that she was so badly treated by so many people. I experienced abuse as a younger woman and it sits there like a dead weight deep inside decades later. When it happened to me, at the time I blamed myself for not protecting myself 'better' but not any longer. Such sad news and my heart goes out to her children.
Brave , articulate and heartfelt reporting Leah. My heart sank again today reading your piece. We all need to delete “troubled” from our vocabulary in story telling about children and teens who have to fight for any level of sanity and safety after familial and criminal exploitation. That’s not troubled, that’s survival.
Another great piece Leah and you’re quite right. I’m listening to John Sweeney’s book about Ghislaine Maxwell at the moment and “born into a troubled world” could easily describe her too (NB this isn’t an apology for her behaviour)
Very powerful piece Leah and a great defence for women like Virgina. And you are spelling it out in clear sight. I could apply this logic to any number of the women who were abused within my dad's 'spiritual' community. It starts with neglect, and continues on and on, and I am also not sure that being in the public eye offers any real relief or empowerment. Although I do think writing offers a way out - because it is totally in your control as the narrative of your experience, and cannot be warped by editors or newspaper reporters. But I guess she didn't get that far to consider it. I just noticed some Financial Times journalist wrote a book about her - I wonder if it is chasing the scandal, or it had her consent. Interesting it's written by a man. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Virginia-Giuffre-Extraordinary-Millionaires-Ghislaine/dp/1783341904
The fact that she became an unwilling public crusader in a fight she didn’t start or want while at the same time suffering an abusive marriage and raising three children is such colossal injustice and a testament to her strength. And it’s not an uncommon story, it’s just a visible one. What a heroine.
She violated a temporary restraining order put in place for her children's safety after she assaulted her ex-husband. It would have been up in June originally, and she still would have had a hearing on June 11. Whether she was killed by her own hand or the Mossad's, it's a tragedy, but the casual smearing of her ex-husband—her three children's only remaining parent—is unwarranted and uncouth.
The blame should shift from the "Troubled Ones" to the Trouble itself. Or shall I call them the Troublers?
So vulnerable and targetted from
her childhood, and then labelled in such a way to somehow further excuse the predators. Words are so important and this is a profound article in exposing how words themselves become another weapon. thank you, (another John Sweeney)
She was murdered, no question about it.
by who?
Mossad, of course. Epstein had confirmed connections, Maxwell's father was involved, as well.
May her spirit be free and at peace. May her children grow in her courage. 🤍
Virginia’s death is so profoundly sad. She was failed by society and the adults around her. I can’t help but feel her suicide marks the end of the Me Too era and shows where we are in the culture now; with a misogynist accused of sexual assault as president, and the cultural discourse swinging far back to the sexism, ‘Trad Wife’ values and misogyny we thought we’d left behind
My feelings are.that she was driven to take her own life, deliberately isolated from her family and left vulnerable , there are means by which private security companies can easily force a victim to take her own life. The use of microwave weapons are now past development many years ago, these weapons are horrendous as I have been targeted by them.
It certainly was convenient for her removal , a lady with.many secrets of the rich and powerful we
Him would prefer to avoid prison
Money talks
She was murdered. Let’s focus on the real culprits instead of Trump innuendo.JEFFREY EPSTEIN, BILL CLINTON, BILL GATES, PRINCE ANDREWS, LEON BLACK, LARRY SUMMERS, ALAN DERSHOWITZ,
Plus ça change plus c'est la meme chose.🖤
How very sad. I like every one else, thought she had escaped Epstein’s carnalia. I’m saddened to learn that she just traded one nightmare for another. There was no happy ending here, just a lesson for us all.