𝓫𝓪𝓭 𝓵𝓲𝓪𝓻 [ MULTIPLE]

ninety-nine

Interview with Matilde Paes-Bragança

(INT – INTERVIEWER

MPB – MATILDE PAES BRAGANÇA)

INT: Thank you for being here with us today, sharing your story. These days it seems everyone knows your story, but I bet that's not how you feel.

MPB: No, not at all. [chuckles, straightening her posture on the sofa] Waking up one day to everyone knowing something that perhaps you'd rather had kept to yourself is never easy. And sometimes I do wonder if I made the wrong decision. But then [brief pause, followed by soft exhale] then I see more people coming forward. Telling their own story. And that takes away all doubt in my mind. Even if my story keeps getting distorted.

INT: If you don't mind me asking, how has been the healing process? I can only imagine it hasn't been easy.

MPB: I'm a lucky woman. I know I keep repeating that, but it's the truth. Most of my friends stood by me. My parents, my therapist, my team. They all held my hand (and still do), during the process. My safety net, I'd dare say. If it's three in the morning and I need to vent, I know there's someone to talk to and to hold me. And that makes me lucky because I was never alone – and the people I care the most about never doubted me.

INT: Would you say that that was the most important factor in your healing path?

MPB: No. It helped. But the most important part was the ability to come to terms with it psychologically. My ability to open to the reality of what had happened. And I will admit that I went through a rough patch with deniability. I couldn't come to terms with it. A big part of my process has been understanding what happened.

INT: Was that the reason why your team didn't follow up with the rape-by-deceit case?

MPB: Yes. I won't lie, I still don't see myself as a rape victim. I wasn't gonna follow up with a case of rape when I didn't consider myself a rape victim. So many people have shown me proof and evidence and I still couldn't see it. Was it, to many, obvious? Perhaps. Would it perhaps have followed up differently if it had been taken as a public case? Yes. But to me, I wasn't a rape victim.

INT: Do you regret the way this case was projected by the media?

MPB: I hate that word – case. Is this all this is? That impersonal? Did I not live this? Is it now worthy of more respect and more serious approach? Not long ago, I had a journalist from Empire Magazine write a review on my most recent movie. The headline: "Seb Stan is a great actor. But no surprise, as he acted his way through his relationship with Matilde Paes-Bragança". And I repeat – am I not worthy of more respect? The response they got was great to them. Men, women. Fathers, brothers, sons. Women. I had women throw all sorts of things at me during an industry event. Physically attack me and my boyfriend as he tried to shield me. This case, as you called it, made people hate me. But it also forced the world to know the truth. I don't regret it. I do wish that people had better reasoning skills, though.

INT: You personally donated to charities that offer pro bono legal counselling to abuse victims. But I also read that part of the value of your albums and merch will revert to women's shelters. Is that true?

MPB: Yes. 20% of my profits will revert to the funding of women's shelters across the world. I keep on repeating that I'm lucky, but it's not only that. I'm also extremely privileged. I was able to pay for my extremely capable legal team, but not everyone is, hence why the personal donations. The shelters are just as important.

INT: Why come to us for this interview? Why an unknown, non-profit organization?

MPB: Because you work directly with the victims. With the people recovering. I could very well have granted this interview to The New York Times or Vogue. But this made more sense. This isn't a press move. That would be dumb. The reality is that not only am I a victim, but I'm also someone who can bring forth enormous attention to the cause. That's why it was you.

INT: Thank you. Thank you for being so open and honest and for coming to us.

MPB: Thank you. 

☁️☁️☁️☁️

a.n.: hello my loves. this one took longer because i haven't been home much. hope you enjoyed it. xx