Connie Chung has opened up about her experience with sexual abuse in her latest book, “Connie: A Memoir,” which was released this week.
In her memoir, the renowned television journalist revisits painful details concerning the man who allegedly abused her during her formative years. Chung reflects on an incident that took place during her first gynecological examination by a “trusted family doctor,” who also delivered her at birth.
Describing this doctor as a “monster,” Chung revealed that he inappropriately touched her during the exam. She recounted, “What made this monster even more reprehensible was that he was the very doctor who had delivered me on August 20, 1946,” in an excerpt shared with Us Weekly.
At the time of the incident, she was a college student seeking birth control. Chung detailed how the now-deceased doctor allegedly massaged her and guided her through the assault, stating, “for the first time in my life, I had an orgasm,” and that he kissed her on the lips afterward. “I did not say a word. I could not even look at him,” she added.
Her account in the memoir resonates with sentiments from a 2018 letter she wrote to Christine Blasey Ford, which was published in the Washington Post amidst Blasey Ford’s allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh. Chung shared that the abuse occurred during the 1960s and expressed regret for not reporting the incident.
“I did not report [the doctor] to authorities. It never crossed my mind to protect other women,” she stated in that letter. “Please understand, I was actually embarrassed about my sexual naivete. I was in my 20s and knew nothing about sex. All I wanted to do was bury the incident in my mind and protect my family.” She ended her letter with encouragement for Blasey Ford, saying, “Bravo, Christine, for telling the truth.”
Chung, whose impressive career spans ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN, has worked alongside notable figures like Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters. After her last television appearance in 2006, she has returned to the public eye to promote her memoir. “Connie: A Memoir” not only addresses her experiences in broadcast journalism as an Asian American woman but also delves into her marriage with Maury Povich. The book was officially released on Tuesday.