Ashley Judd's Shocking Memoir Reveals Past Filled With Abuse, Drugs

By Kelly Fisher Posted Apr 5th 2011 09:20AM

Actress Ashley Judd's new memoir sheds light on her shocking past, which includes growing up in a drug-fueled environment and suffering sexual abuse as a child, RadarOnline.com reports.

Judd's book, 'All That Is Bitter & Sweet,' was released today, and the actress reveals some shocking secrets about the country-singing family in the book.

"My mother, while she was transforming herself into the country legend Naomi Judd, created an origin myth for the Judds that did not match my reality," she writes.

"She and my sister [Wynonna] have been quoted as saying that our family put the 'fun' in dysfunction. I wondered: 'Who, exactly, was having all the fun? What was I missing?'"

From revealing lies her mother told about about Wynonna's real father to allegations of child neglect, Judd doesn't hold much back in her shocking book.

"I was taught to believe that our lifestyle was normal and never to question it or complain, even when I was left alone for hours, sometimes days at a time, or when I was passed without warning to yet another relative," she writes, adding that "there was always marijuana inside the house" and her father, Michael Ciminella, "was prone to taking hallucinogenics with friends on Saturday nights."

Judd also recalls a painful memory of being sexually abused as a child.

"An old man everyone knew beckoned me into a dark, empty corner of the business and offered me a quarter for the pinball machine at the pizza place if I'd sit on his lap," Judd writes. "He opened his arms, I climbed up, and I was shocked when he suddenly cinched his arms around me, squeezing me and smothering my mouth with his, jabbing his tongue deep into my mouth."

The abuse she suffered led to a deep depression, which also stemmed from her relationship with her mother.

"I loved my mother, but at the same time I dreaded the mayhem and uncertainty that followed her everywhere," Judd writes. "I often felt like an outsider observing my mom's life as she followed her own dreams."

Comments

(106)

Tuesday 05 April

By Mike

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Huh? To whom has she shown understanding?

By Paris

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Ashley you are the best.And thank you for all
you do charity wise to help all animals everywhere.
Paris

By Patty Bailey

I admire you for speaking up. I went through the same things, and it's like your making it up. My mother went to her grave with me trying to get answers from her about things that happened to me and my brothers and sisters. She would just say leave it alone, but you know what I'm still alive and in countseling 2 times a month over all this, I'll never have the right answers. All of my family is still suffering over this. Mom would get in front of people and talk like she was the best mother in the world. It makes me sick to think about what we went through. I fight everyday not to be like her, but I never seem to be good enough, clean enough, smart enough, everything I never feel good enough. I have my own business,artist, nice home, car, everything I need, but I'm still not good enough. There are so many more just like us out there going through the same thing. I'm 60 years old and I guess I'll die feeling like I'm still not good enough. Go figure

By jonzbeach

Not only is she the most beautiful and erudite of the Judds, she is the most honest. That self-serving, self-grandizing POS her mother wrote (Love Will Build a Bridge), came off as Naomi Judd following HER dreams..even before all the lies in the book were exposed. Naomi Judd makes me sick...but at least now she looks the bloated, plastic doll-face part she really is. Wynonna...you are kind a weird (Magenta hair..really?)..but you sing like an angel..you don't need your coat-tail mother anymore.

By R W

I am soooo turned on right now after reading that...I'll be back, I have to desperately rub one out now!

"An old man everyone knew beckoned me into a dark, empty corner of the business and offered me a quarter for the pinball machine at the pizza place if I'd sit on his lap," Judd writes. "He opened his arms, I climbed up, and I was shocked when he suddenly cinched his arms around me, squeezing me and smothering my mouth with his, jabbing his tongue deep into my mouth."

By cchucklest1

good actress seems to be a nice women. this just lets you know that you have no way of knowing what is really going on in peoples lives once the get within the privacy of their house.

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I was molested and anally raped...so was My boyfriend. I met him via agelesscupid.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends..

Thursday 28 April

By Sandy

OMG - will you please stop at NOTHING to get your slimy posts on here - you are a gross pig and I'm pretty certain NO ONE wants to respond to your tacky, nasty posts!!! GET A REAL LIFE, please.

By moudsie

I always thought there was something about Naomi or whatever her real name is -- she seemed to be always looking for attention from men when on stage and OMG --did you see her at the CMA awards this week -- both of them actually, with the so fake red hair -- Momma looked like she was on drugs and was ready to topple over -- give it up lady -- you're over the hll and then some.

By cwebsterk

Is your star in Hollywood fading? 15 minutes almost up?? Write a tell-all book about your 'horrible' childhood! Works everytime! Better yet...have an overdose or get yourself a DUI! Back on top! Rinse and Repeat until you're Liz Taylor's age.

By RELANE

YET ANOTHER CELEBRATOID BORING US ALL WITH THEIR PROBLEM UPBRINGING, THEIR DRUGS, THEIR MARRIAGES, THEIR WHATEVER....JUST DON'T FORGET ONE THING....THEY HAVE MULTI-MILLIONS TO FALL BACK ON AND YOU DON'T....STILL WANT TO BUY THEIR GARBAGE?

Was that unwanted French kiss all the old man did? I agree that's pretty horrible, but it sure wasn't what I was thinking of when she said she was "sexual[ly] abused." And not by a relative, either, as was likewise implied.

I'm not too crazy about the practice of airing your family's dirty laundry to make a quick buck, either.

OMG - I can't believe your post - what do you mean, "is that all the old man did"????? You Mike, are the sicko.

By HELLO POO & PALS

I also say that as unfortunate as it is, why bring something like this to the public eye? Is she trying to hurt someone? I would never expose something like this no matter what. The Judd family are a bunch of phonies in my opinion.......who cares??

By Pope of Truth

I'm Shocked. Totally Shocked!!! Now back to my shocking life.

By JEFF K

HEY ALLAN....THE NICEST WAY I CAN PUT THIS IS...YOU'RE AN IDIOT.

By southernlites

Having been molested, brutally, by my grandfather at ages 9-11, I feel sympathy for her. I'm a grandmother now and it's something you never get over. It's like a movie that will run in your head when you least expect it. I've forgiven him because my God tells me I must. He was just a sick old man. But at the same time this is something no one in my family will ever know, there's no reason to hurt his children or any others. Peace.

By Tara

So Ashley did not have a perfect childhood? Who did? Her mother was trying to support the family - what an ingrate. People used to work in the fields with their kids and there was child labor - there still is on many farms. She had to spend time with her relatives and was alone? The concept that life is perfect and wonderful is what causes so more pain, because it doesn't exist. Ashley should write down everything she has done to hurt others including her mother and sister - she has avoided motherhood, so she can always play the victim (otherwise the kid will tell her what a lousy mother she is). Better yet, write down everything you have to grateful for, because I am sure that list is way longer.

By liber8er

ASHLEY DARLING, Nobody really cares about your embellished past.
Sad that the accused are never around to defend themselves. It also sounds like much to do about nothing.

By J. D.

IF the statements in the book are true, our hearts go
out to Ashley. I hope Ashley realizes though, as talented
as she is, her famous family members made her career path
smoother than if she had been an "unknown". She was already
famous via Mom & Sis.

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