Eileen Davidson is known as one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast members, as well as one of the on-again, off-again stars of the daytime dramas Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. Something she’s not been known for–until recently–is a victim of domestic abuse.
It was during an interview with Jenny McCarthy on her SiriusXM radio show, Dirty, Sexy, Funny Tuesday, that Eileen Davidson opened up about her past as a domestic abuse survivor–not just once, but twice.
#RHOBH star Eileen Davidson opens up about surviving domestic abuse https://t.co/dnHc6PbLw9 pic.twitter.com/naslWIOPol
— People Magazine (@people) January 27, 2016
“It’s a feeling that you can’t live without them, even if they hit you. It’s ‘Oh maybe I did something to make this happen. It’s me,’” she told McCarthy. “I was so afraid of being alone I just had to have a boyfriend. I was very codependent. Extremely codependent. I would break up and then I would find a reason to put it on myself. ‘He hit me because of this. I’m so sorry. I made you do that.’”
Eileen Davidson fell into another typical trap while under the control of her abusers, too. She felt she could do something to help her abusers change their wicked ways, saving them from themselves.
On the last season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Davidson first shared she had been abused in two relationships–one in her teens and one in her 20s. She told Jenny McCarthy she was astonished by the support she received online after the show aired.
Thanks for coming on @DsfwithJenny and sharing your story of surviving abuse @eileen_davidson. Proud of you. #dsf https://t.co/xPTGxrss3Q
— Jenny McCarthy (@JennyMcCarthy) January 26, 2016
“It was mind-blowing. So many tweets from people who are still in those relationships,” she shared.
Eileen Davidson also spoke about domestic abuse on Larry Flick’s SiriusXM radio show.
“It’s a cycle. It just grows,” she said. “You get caught up in this whole thing that you don’t want to be alone and you can’t handle life on your own, and maybe subconsciously think you deserve this.”
We want to give @eileen_davidson HUGE props for opening up and sharing her story. #RHOBH pic.twitter.com/I6sHazenm8
— Bravotv (@Bravotv) January 20, 2016
Eileen Davidson is raising awareness about domestic abuse by speaking out about her experiences. If only one woman recognizes the signs and leaves her abuser, her efforts won’t have been in vain.
Kudos to Eileen for sharing her painful past to help make a better future for women who are being abused.