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 n506

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There are many, many children who are and have been abused as children (myself included). We need to take the skeletons out of the closet, face them, and then move on. Writing books about this sort of thing helps nobody but the writer. If it helps to write, then they should do so, but to put it out for the world to pay money for, is selfish and greedy. The money won't ever make up for the time and innocence we lost as children.

By goatcars2

A hollywood star writes a book alledging a past of drug use and abuse....WOW....What a shock!!!!! I guess it's time for her career to get a kickstart.

By Denis Heurtevant

Well, there's no doubt that her mother was a bit of wacko, and big sister has her own set of problems what with eating disorders and alcohol abuse.

By Moonwind

Sooooo, The Judds have been famous for quite sometime. Why would she wait so long to write her book. Sounds like emotional black mail to me. You won't get any richer from me. I tend not to buy stuff from those who I suspect have unterior motives for writing it in the first place. Like I will never buy a Taylor Swift C.D. nor will I go to one of her concerts. If I wanted to hear someone bash their boyfriends, I'd have plenty of material at home.
Ashley, I have bought some of your movies. Thought they were good, but no more darling. Hate these people who wake up one morning and say I think I'll write a book today to bash my family.

By Kathi

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I saw through Naomi everytime I saw her being interviewed. She is a self-absorbed narcissist. Ashley just wanted to get back at her mother who was neglectful and a liar.

By .

By lynne

Ashley, try to look ahead and remember you survived to succeed. Be your own person, try to forgive. Remember forgiveness is the best revenge.

Wednesday 06 April

By terrie

Don't believe everything you read or hear on TV. If this is a true story and she needed to put it in writing, leave it there. Who does it benefit? Why air your dirty laundry in public?
I really think she is a good actress but pulling this stunt is beneath her. Every celebrity these days has a "problem" It is like my problem is worse than yours and they are dueling it out in books, in rehab and anywhere else they can get an ear. Big deal there are bigger things happening in this country. Go do another awards show.

By Welcome Mieka

This is just sad. If she ahd her family have issues, they should be dealt with privately. I never pegged her for the type that would trash her family for money, but that is what this feels like. If these things are true, my heart goes out to her. But these are family issues and should be dealt with as a family. If she has the support of her family on this book, that will make a big difference.

By Babble

A stunning beauty and a delightful actress, loved her in Double Jeopardy and Heat as Val Kilmer's squeeze.

By Ted Strickland

Is there any celebrity that hasnt been sexually abused??? This is so not information that we want to know about. This information has been used so many times I want to p

By Choperia

I knew there was a reason she was at the Kentucky basketball game a couple nights ago sitting in the student section. Getting ready to promote her book. Nice to know she will prostitute her image to sell a book.

By je

OMG, who gave you all the right to judge anyone? Let people be who they are and heal in whatever way they can. If you have never been abused, shut the heck up!!!

By Ruth

Ashley is a wonderful actress, enjoyed
everything she has ever been in.
When the Judds first came out I seen them
in person, and was appalled at how the Mother
waltzed around the stage while Wynona was singing,
like she was the whole show. Never have liked her since.
Keep your head up Ashley.

Monday 11 April

By patty

I have always liked Ashley Judd and wondered what the deep sadness was in her when I saw her and also have always been concerned about Wynonna. I realize that alot of people have a serious problem with hearing truth. Families carry on denial and live with deep pain and never talk about it so it just goes on and on. Telling the truth is not a crime and pretending that things are great when they are clearly not is a sad thing too.
Everyone wants to paint a pretty picture but every family has their secrets and their cruelty and denial. It's usually the innocents that get the most damage because they won't go along with the lies and learn to hold their pain till it destroys them unless they figure out a way to let it out.

By There Is

There is always several sides to a story

By nunyabiz222

It's all hear say! It's her word against her Mothers! I haven't seen her in a movie for a few years, this sounds like a publicity stunt to get noticed again. Or, maybe she's jealous of her sister and Mothers close relationship with each other as a singing team and wants revenge towards them.

By benji

Only people who where NEVER abused shoot off there BIG TRAP on this site tryig to justify what some parents can do to there kids all for the sake of the damm american buck and fame syndrome. She did the right thing regardless what all of you write. I know what she is going through and its NOT the money for the book that matters. Be glad you had a great home and the rest of you cool it and dont show your ignorance.

AMERICA always had a problem with the truth and lives forever in Denial. All for the sake of FAME and MONEY or is it arrogance and stupidity?

Thursday 07 April

By gmuny2002

Just goes to show you, there's "human garbage" everywhere!

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