REYNA FOSTER-STAN BREAKS HER FIVE-YEAR-LONG SILENCE: "I WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY A MAN I DID NOTHING BUT PUT MY TRUST IN"
Take a look at this picture of our wonderful Reyna we captured during the beginning of her interview. Her smile is beautiful and bright; her vibrant green eyes appear to be glistening with a profound happiness. And why wouldn't she be happy? The 39 year old is one of Hollywood's most critically acclaimed film actresses; she has two very beautiful children and is married to yet another one of Hollywood's best. She has every reason in the world to be happy, but her smile and her glistening green eyes merely serve as an external mask to help hide what's happening to her on the inside.
We had the pleasure of sitting down to talk with Reyna yesterday. The interview was all smiles and laughs as normal, that is, until we delved into our conversation about the incident that occurred all those years ago. Take a look.
INTERVIEWER: Should we get into the reason why you're really here, Reyna?
REYNA: Uh, yeah.
INTERVIEWER: When did the incident happen?
REYNA: In early 2017. We were filming Infinity War down in Atlanta.
INTERVIEWER: Wow. If you don't mind me asking, what exactly happened? How did this happen?
REYNA: [LAUGHS] If I minded you asking, I wouldn't be here, now would I? But it's a long story, really. Sebastian and I ran into an old friend from high school—he is no longer a friend of ours, by the way—at my Vogue cover party in December and I think we decided to go out when he came down to Atlanta. So we did, and that was that. Then, that friend texted me while Sebastian was filming and asked to hang out for a little bit until he had to leave for the airport, I guess, and I didn't wanna turn him down. So, we went to eat in some weird part of Atlanta and after we finished eating he walked me out. At the time I had been so involved and freaked out by this story he was telling me that I hadn't been paying attention to my surroundings. I wish I would've been; maybe if I had been I wouldn't have been drug into an alleyway beside a bar.
INTERVIEWER: You say you were freaked out by a story he was telling? What story was that?
REYNA: When I was in high school, apparently he was borderline obsessed with me. I never knew that until Sebastian told me, and even after he told me I refused to listen. I'm the type of person who wants to see the good in people, and this man appeared as if he had legitimately changed since his high school days, so I didn't delve as much into Sebastian's words as I should have. When I was younger, though, Sebastian took me to a graduation party for his graduating class that this man—I'm gonna use the name Chance when I talk about him—had planned. I got completely hammered and Chance, who I learned Sebastian had stopped from speaking to me over the years, found me and wanted to take advantage of my drunken state by finally getting what he had always wanted with me since I first met him during my freshmen year. If it hadn't been for Sebastian, he would have.
INTERVIEWER: That is absolutely horrible, Reyna. But I do have to say that you are so lucky to have a man like Sebastian in your life.
REYNA: I am.
INTERVIEWER: After the incident—who found you in the alleyway?
REYNA: [SNIFFS AND WIPES FACE] Uh, my friend Morgan was just getting off of work when she found me.
INTERVIEWER: And what time was this?
REYNA: Maybe one or two in the morning. I had no concept of time then. I just know it was dark—really, really dark.
INTERVIEWER: When you missed work for a couple of weeks back around that time. . .was this incident the reason why?
REYNA: No; no one knew about what had happened to me except for Morgan. I was out of work because I was suffering from a grade three concussion that was given to me by my abuser. I still have the scar to prove it.
INTERVIEWER: When did you finally tell someone about what happened?
REYNA: I ran off of set one day after filming a very triggering scene with Sebastian and when I returned to my condo at midnight to find all of my cast mates sitting in my loft ready for an intervention, the truth was finally revealed. Even then I still didn't tell them. They just kind of figured it out after I had this sort of breakdown.
INTERVIEWER: Wow. I'm so sorry, Reyna.
REYNA: It's not your fault, of course.
INTERVIEWER: And it isn't yours either.
REYNA: Thank you.
INTERVIEWER: I know the whole ordeal was so traumatizing for you—
REYNA: Very much, yes.
INTERVIEWER: Can I just ask what it was that allowed you to find some sort of comfort with the situation? What was the one thing that was able to remove you from that painful reality long enough to bring you some peace and some semblance?
REYNA: Sebastian and my pregnancy with Theodor. [SNIFFS] I can remember being so happy when I found out I was pregnant with Theodor and I can remember being so happy because Sebastian was happy. After so many years I was finally starting a family with the man I loved, and at the time it was enough to take my mind off of every horrible thing that I went through that night; it was enough to remind me that with every bad thing there is something good that follows. It's the reason why I haven't spoken publicly about the incident until now. I was so focused on my family and how happy they made me that I didn't want to take myself back to that painful night. I wanted to let it go, but truth be told, no matter how many years pass, it's almost impossible to let go of something so traumatic and painful.
INTERVIEWER: And one last question before we let you go. What advice do you have for victims of sexual abuse?
REYNA: Please talk to someone; it doesn't matter if it's your friend, your mom, your dad, your boyfriend, or your girlfriend. You are not alone and you never will be. It's definitely hard to get over something so horrible, but if you have the right people by your side, there's an excellent chance you'll find enough happiness to help mask the pain and in the long run it will feel so much better. So, please just talk to someone. Let the people you love be there for you.
INTERVIEWER: Thank you so much for coming to talk to us, Mrs. Stan.
REYNA: You're very welcome.
If you're a victim of sexual abuse, please visit the website we have linked below. Like Reyna said, you're not alone. We wish all victims the best of luck and love, and we'd like to thank Reyna for taking time out of her day to come talk to us.
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