Continue to Hollywoodlife () SKIP AD
Hollywood Life Logo Image

Hollywood Life

Today's Top Stories

  • demi moore
    See Pics

    Demi Moore, 58, Slays Runway With Dramatic New Look: Plus, More Stars At PFW

  • Lizzo
    Watch

    Lizzo Stuns In A Fiery Crop Top & Thong For Hot New Video: 'Can't Wait To Archive This'

  • paula's choice
    SHOP

    Over 21,000 People Swear By This BHA Exfoliant That Clears Blackheads & Pores & Is Under $30

Hollywood Life
  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Celebrity Bios
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Shopping
  • Celebrity News
  • World News
  • Exclusives
  • Politics
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Opinions
ALL NEWS
  • Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes

    Eva Mendes Spotted Wearing Gold Band On Left Hand During Hike With Ryan Gosling & 2 Daughters: Rare Pics

  • Rebel Wilson Says People ‘Didn’t Look Twice’ At Her Before She Lost 60 Lbs.: I’m Treated Differently Now

  • Mama June Cozies Up To Boyfriend Geno Doak As They Celebrate One Year Of Sobriety — Pic

  • Award Shows
  • At The Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Holidays
  • Entertainment Features
  • Podcast
  • Oscar Contenders
ALL ENTERTAINMENT
  • Jason Scott Lee

    Jason Scott Lee: 5 Things To Know About The ‘Mulan’ Star Who’s Joined The ‘Doogie Howser’ Reboot

  • Michael B. Jordan Reveals Whether He’d Want To Star In ‘Black Panther 2’: It’s ‘Near & Dear’ To Me

  • ‘The Challenge’: Jay Reveals Why He Was ‘Stoked’ To Take On Leroy In Elimination & More

  • Taylor Swift
  • Rihanna
  • Selena Gomez
  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Justin Bieber
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Gigi Hadid
  • Khloe Kardashian
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Angelina Jolie
  • Harry Styles
  • Kourtney Kardashian
ALL CELEBRITY BIOS
  • Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes

    Eva Mendes Spotted Wearing Gold Band On Left Hand During Hike With Ryan Gosling & 2 Daughters: Rare Pics

  • Jason Scott Lee: 5 Things To Know About The ‘Mulan’ Star Who’s Joined The ‘Doogie Howser’ Reboot

  • Demi Moore, 58, Slays Runway With Dramatic New Look: Plus, More Stars At Paris Fashion Week

  • Fragrance
  • Hair Care
  • Health
  • Makeup
  • Nails
  • Beauty Features
  • Skincare
  • Makeover
  • Diet & Fitness
ALL BEAUTY
  • body lotion

    Body Lotion: 11 Hydrating Products That Will Moisturize Dry Winter Skin In No Time

  • Over 21,000 People Swear By This BHA Exfoliant That Clears Blackheads & Pores & Is Under $30

  • Jennifer Aniston’s Light Hair Makeover: Shows Off Blonder Locks On ‘Morning Show’ Set – Before & After

  • Red Carpet
  • Weddings
  • Fashion Features
  • Shopping
ALL FASHION
  • demi moore

    Demi Moore, 58, Slays Runway With Dramatic New Look: Plus, More Stars At Paris Fashion Week

  • Lizzo Stuns In A Fiery Crop Top & Thong For Hot New Video: ‘Can’t Wait To Archive This’ — Watch

  • Farrah Abraham Looks Like A ‘Baywatch’ Babe In Wet Crop Top & Bikini Bottoms In Hot New Beach Pics

  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk
Next Up

Lara Trump Shares Photo Of Son Luke, 5 Months, Looking EXACTLY Like Grandpa Donald — See Pics

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Newsletters
  • Search Close

Trending

  • Bonnie Says
  • Celeb Babies
  • TV
  • Celeb Galleries
Search

NewsExpand Menu

  • Celebrity News
  • World News
  • Exclusives
  • Politics
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Opinions
  • Rock The Vote

EntertainmentExpand Menu

  • Entertainment Features
  • TV
  • Award Shows
  • At The Movies
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Podcast
  • At Home With...

BeautyExpand Menu

  • Fragrance
  • Hair Care
  • Health
  • Makeup
  • Nails
  • Skincare
  • Beauty Features
  • Diet & Fitness
  • Shopping

FashionExpand Menu

  • Red Carpet
  • Weddings
  • Fashion Features
  • Shopping

TrendingExpand Menu

  • Bonnie Says
  • TV
  • Celeb Galleries

About UsExpand Menu

  • About Us
  • Writer Bios
  • Scoops, Tips & Corrections
  • Subscribe To Newsletter
  • Contact Us

Celebrity ProfilesExpand Menu

  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Justin Bieber
  • Selena Gomez
  • Taylor Swift
  • Rihanna
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Gigi Hadid
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Angelina Jolie
Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Newsletters
Alerts & Newsletters
  • Jobs
  • Scoops & Corrections
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • AdChoices
  • Data Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
© 2021 Penske Media Corporation
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Hope Hicks
  • Donald Trump
Bonnie Says
comment 1 Comment
February 12, 2018 6:16PM EST

Domestic Abuse Can Happen To Any Woman, Even You — Rob Porter’s Ex Wives’ Claims Prove It

White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter (L) Senior Advisor to the President Stephen Miller, (C) and Director of the National Economic Council and chief economic advisor Gary Cohn, ( R)walk on the South Lawn as they return with the US President (out of frame) to the White House in Washington, DC  USA, 18 January 2018.  The president was returning from a trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Trump Arrives at the White House, Washington, USA - 18 Jan 2018
John Kelly, Gary Cohn, Rob Porter. President Donald Trump's Chief of Staff John Kelly, left, White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn, center, and White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter, right, arrive at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., for a short trip to the White House after accompanying President Donald Trump at the 2018 House and Senate Republican Member Conference at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WVa
Trump, Andrews AFB, USA - 01 Feb 2018
View Gallery View Gallery 6 Photos.
Bonnie Fuller
President & Editor-in-Chief
  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk

Donald Trump doesn’t want to believe that his former top aide, Rob Porter, physically & emotionally abused his 2 college-educated ex wives. But guess what?

There is a myth about domestic abuse — that it only happens to uneducated women or poor people. That it doesn’t happen to women in your own circle, explains Katie Ray-Jones, CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.  But, it does. “It happens everywhere. It’s happening in corporate America, it’s happening in every community, it doesn’t discriminate… and it’s just not isolated in the White House. It really is rampant in the country.” That’s right. It actually happens to one in 4 women in their lifetimes, and it happens to women who are educated from middle and upper class families, Katie Ray-Jones, told Hollywoodlife.com, in an exclusive interview.

That’s exactly the experience of Porter’s ex-wives who have spoken out in the past week — Colbie Holderness and Jennifer Willoughby. When they first dated and then married Porter, he was “charming and charismatic,” “romantic and fun.” However, as their relationships progressed, a different man emerged. Holderness alleges that verbal abuse began before they married and that she was floored on their honeymoon when her new husband grew angry when they weren’t having sex and he allegedly “kicked” her. After that, she claims he would throw her on the bed at times and grind a knee or elbow into her. He would choke her and he even punched her in the face, she says. Holderness gave a photo of herself with a black eye, allegedly delivered by Porter to the media to publish.

Willoughby, 39, Porter’s second wife claims that he pulled her naked from the shower to yell at her just after their first anniversary, and she filed a police complaint after he punched the glass on the door to her home. Nevertheless, despite the graphic accounts that both ex-wives gave, Donald Trump continues to support Porter, tweeting on Feb. 10 that “Peoples lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation… there is no recovery from someone falsely accused — life and career are gone. Is there no such thing any longer as Due Process?”

Of course, it’s exactly because of the reactions of people like Donald Trump that many women who are victims of domestic abuse don’t come forward — they fear they won’t be believed. “It’s a mind trip for the victims, that on the outside, typically domestic violence perpetrators look like amazing people. They can be charismatic, charming. They can be very successful, they get along with people in other scenarios and it leaves the victim survivor sitting there and feel like, ‘It’s just me. So I must be the problem,” explains Katie Ray-Jones.

Lots of women think they have met the man of their dreams and may have a blissful few months or even years before the abuse begins, and it can start gradually, which is why so many women, like Porter’s wives, don’t think of themselves as allegedly being victims of abuse for some time. “When two people first fall in love, there aren’t signs of abuse… they’re not saying ‘in six months, I’m going to belittle you and control you and tell you how to dress and who you can go out and see, and then I’m gonna control the finances, and eventually, I’m going to kick the crap out of you,'” says Ray-Jones. “They begin to chisel away at you as a person slowly and they begin to isolate you in ways that feel like, ‘I want to spend more time with you, so don’t go out with your friends tonight. Let’s just stay home together,’ and then it happens repeatedly. We hear a lot about this isolation piece.”

Over time, typically, if you’re involved in an unhealthy relationship with a domestic abuser, the verbal, emotional and physical abuse escalates, the isolation escalates and women end up feeling trapped, lost and often fearful for their lives. Victims who call the National Domestic Violence Hotline are often terrified after their husbands or boyfriends threaten to kill them and also threaten to kill themselves. Their fear is rooted in reality. One in 3 female murder victims are killed by intimate partners and 72% of all murder-suicides are perpetrated by intimate partners, according to the National Coalition against Domestic Violence. The National Domestic Violence Hotline received almost 422,000 calls in 2017. Also, one in 5 women have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner. One in 5! And Donald Trump is standing by Rob Porter and “wishing him well.” “He also, as you probably know, says he’s innocent and “you have to remember that,” Trump told the media in a press conference, on Feb. 9.

Well, don’t listen to the man in the Oval Office. If you think you are in an unhealthy relationship that is emotionally, verbally or physically abusive, or you think that someone you know is in this terrible situation, get help now. You, or your friend or family member, are not the problem. You or they are the victim. Victims don’t deserve abuse. For immediate help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or you can chat with advocates online 24/7. All calls and chats are confidential.

Domestic abuse can happen to any woman of any age and any background, so please don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Click to Subscribe to Our HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get more celeb news.
  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk
Bonnie Says Donald Trump hope-hicks

More Political News:

  • Donald Trump's Livid Over Hair Malfunction: How He'll Avoid Another Windblown Fiasco
  • Hope Hicks Looks Distraught After Rumored BF Rob Porter's WH Exit Over Abuse Allegations
  • Rob Porter: 5 Things About Hope Hicks’ BF & White House Aide Who Quit Over Abuse Allegations

Most Read

Britney Spears Shakes Her Hips In Tiny Shorts While Dancing To Ex Justin Timberlake’s Music

Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake

Rebel Wilson Says People ‘Didn’t Look Twice’ At Her Before She Lost 60 Lbs.: I’m Treated Differently Now

Rebel Wilson

Selena Gomez Rocks Shorts & Bright White Sneakers While Posing For Gorgeous New PUMA Ad

Selena Gomez

Mama June Cozies Up To Boyfriend Geno Doak As They Celebrate One Year Of Sobriety — Pic

Mama June and Geno Doak

’90 Day Fiance’ Updates: Couples Still In Love & Those Who Split

Paola and Russ Mayfield

Have news, pics or video on a breaking news story?

Send us your Tip

Have news, pics or video on a breaking news story?

Send us your Tip

More From Our Brands

  • The 2021 Barbie Fashionista Lineup Is the Most Diverse Yet
    SheKnows

    The 2021 Barbie Fashionista Lineup Is the Most Diverse Yet

  • This $30 Candle Is Basically a Spot-on Dupe for Diptyque’s Baies Fragrance
    StyleCaster

    This $30 Candle Is Basically a Spot-on Dupe for Diptyque’s Baies Fragrance

  • WandaVision's Emma Caulfield Talks Dottie's 'Surreal Moment' — Plus, Did the Writers Sneak in a Buffy Reference?
    TVLine

    WandaVision's Emma Caulfield Talks Dottie's 'Surreal Moment' — Plus, Did the Writers Sneak in a Buffy Reference?

  • Leslie Odom Jr. Performs Emotional ‘Speak Now’ on ‘Kimmel’
    Rolling Stone

    Leslie Odom Jr. Performs Emotional ‘Speak Now’ on ‘Kimmel’

  • Miley Cyrus’ Pin-Front Top, Leopard Print Pants & 5-Inch Platforms Are Peak Rock Star Style
    FootwearNews

    Miley Cyrus’ Pin-Front Top, Leopard Print Pants & 5-Inch Platforms Are Peak Rock Star Style

    HollywoodLife

    • About Us
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Advertise With Us
    • Careers
    • Scoops & Corrections
    • Contact Us

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Rights
    • AdChoices
    • EU Privacy Preferences
    • Terms of Use
    • Data Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    News

    • Celebrity News
    • World News
    • Exclusives
    • Celebrity Babies

    Connect

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
SheKnows Media - Entertainment
© Copyright 2021 HollywoodLife, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
ad