Andy Carroll reveals traumatic experience of sexual assault
Former England footballer Andy Carroll has disclosed he was sexually assaulted during a “traumatic” incident a few years ago. In his new book, Owning It, Carroll provides details about the assault, stating he only decided to include it at the last minute, reports BritPanorama.
The 37-year-old wrote, “Something happened to me a few years ago that was so traumatic I only decided to include it in this book at the very last minute.” He added, “I was sexually assaulted, there I said it. Scary to even think about and only a few people knew about it before now.”
Carroll indicated that he considered whether to share this experience with his audience, confiding he debated with his girlfriend Lou Teasdale about including it in the narrative. Ultimately, he hopes his openness will encourage other victims to speak out.
“Me and Lou spent a lot of time discussing whether to mention it in this book or not,” Carroll explained. He indicated that avoiding the topic made his publisher suspicious about his commitment to discussing the incident.
“Scary to talk about, but it’s made the person I am today as much as any of the good stuff. And if me talking about it helps just one person then good it will have been worth it,” he stated. Currently, Carroll plays and serves as assistant manager for National League South side Dagenham & Redbridge.
This revelation underscores the ongoing discourse surrounding sexual assault, highlighting the importance of survivor narratives in encouraging broader societal understanding and support.
