- By Ridhi Suri
- Thu, 04 Apr 2024 03:48 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Alan Ritchson is currently one of Hollywood's most outstanding actors. He gained recognition for portraying Aquaman in the CW series Smallville. His recent role in the beloved action series Reacher, which debuted in 2022, has been generating significant attention. Though he come across as tough, the actor disclosed that he made a suicide attempt after experiencing multiple instances of sexual assault. Alan attempted to hang himself using a green extension cord in the attic of his residence in Encino, California.
Alan managed to survive by pulling himself up at the eleventh hour, just before losing consciousness. He explained that his decision was prompted by a vision of his sons, Calem (11), Edan (10), and Amory (8), envisioning them in their mid-30s. "They politely advised me not to do it and informed me that they want him to be a part of their lives alive," he told Hollywood Reporter.
Ritchson attributes his ability to pull himself up before losing consciousness to the countless pull-ups he had done over the years. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, he promptly sought medical attention. "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder shortly after," he revealed. He received the diagnosis at the age of 36, and later, at around 40 years old, he was diagnosed with ADHD.
Although it took some time to process, his behavior over the preceding months and years suddenly made sense. The fluctuations between highs and lows, as well as the manic episodes, finally had an explanation. However, the acceptance of his diagnoses was not immediate. Initially, he reacted by yelling at the doctor and storming out, only to return after reaching the parking garage.
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Alan's sexual assault
Alan revealed that he suffered years of sexual abuse during his time in the modeling industry, and this trauma continued to haunt him even after transitioning into acting. He admitted that it deeply affected him, describing it as something that "broke" him. "There are very few redeeming qualities to working in the modeling industry. Let’s be honest, it’s like legalized sex trafficking," he revealed, adding "The industry is not regulated, and it’s a widely known secret that if you’re hired on a job, you’re basically being passed off to a photographer to be trafficked."
"The number of times and situations where I was put in horrific environments where sexual abuse was the goal and the paycheck that you were desperate for in order to survive was the carrot, I can’t count on two hands. It was quite often," he stated.
Further he narrated, "I was booked for a shoot for this very famous photographer,” he remembered. “I was sent into a hotel room to do nudes with the promise that if I did the shoot, he would offer me a very lucrative campaign for a magazine and a clothing line. I was sexually assaulted by this guy."
