Grace Tame’s ‘open letter’ about trauma and her demons after old bong photo emerged
Grace Tame has penned “an open letter”, calling for an “open discussion” after revealing her own “demons” as an old photo of her emerged.
National
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Grace Tame has penned “an open letter”, calling for “open discussion” about trauma after being open about her own “demons”, as an photo of her pictured next to a bong emerged.
The former Australian of the Year addressed it to media outlets who sought to discredit her.
“To every media outlet who sought to discredit me by publishing THAT photo, Although my humour and strength remain intact, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t let me down,” she wrote.
“Not just as an individual, but more so as an advocate of the survivor community…
“At every point — on the national stage, I might add — I’ve been completely transparent about all the demons I’ve battled in the aftermath of child sexual abuse; drug addiction, self-harm, anorexia and PTSD, among others. You just clearly haven’t been listening.”
Ms Tame also said we need to be ready to have an open discussion about trauma and what it can look like.
“Whilst we must acknowledge the harm that drugs can cause, if we want to have an OPEN and HONEST discussion about child sexual abuse in this country, we must also have an open and honest discussion about trauma and what that can look like,” she posted on Twitter.
“It can be ugly. It can look like drugs. Like self-harm, skipping school, getting impulsive tattoos and all kinds of other unconscious, self-destructive, maladaptive coping mechanisms.
“Whilst I do not seek to glorify, sanitise or normalise any of these things, I also do not seek to shame or judge survivors for ANY of their choices. For anyone who needs to hear this: it is NOT YOUR FAULT.
“There are survivors out there who are terrified of seeking help because they’re afraid they’ll be blamed for what has happened to them. They are afraid they’ll be chastised for their coping strategies instead of being offered support and treated for the cause of their suffering.
And what do you think happens when they see the mainstream media deliberately brutalise survivor-advocates like me for actions I took when I was 19 and still trying to process something I didn’t understand? I’ll tell you. Their fear is magnified.
“Publicly shaming survivors for their past is as low as you can possibly go.”
She added: “Drugs feature in the broader story of abuse, during and after. They feed into and compound the many layers of guilt and confusion. Later they become a familiar, go-to means of escape.
“By point-mocking a symptom of a bigger picture, you’ve reinforced the imbalance of an already skewed culture. You’ve chosen to punish the product of an evil, not the evil itself.This is precisely why survivors don’t report. Congratulations.”
AN OPEN LETTER
— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) February 19, 2022
To every media outlet who sought to discredit me by publishing THAT photo,
Although my humour and strength remain intact, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t let me down.
Not just as an individual, but more so as an advocate of the survivor community…
The full letter, which can be read on her Twitter account comes after she first responded to the public scrutiny surrounding the photo by reposting it on Twitter with a caption that said: “Alright, I confess, we were doing a cover of ‘April Sun in Cuba’. On the oboe.”
She was referencing the song Prime Minister Scott Morrison sang a cover of in his recent TV interview, where he used a ukulele.
Mr Morrison was seen sitting at an outdoor table where he sang the song April Sun in Cuba by New Zealand band Dragon.
The photo emerged a day after Mr Morrison’s wife Jenny expressed disappointment over her lack of manners on Australia Day.
The picture, posted on Instagram from 2014, showed Ms Tame with a friend on a couch while she was using her phone.
Ms Tame was not using the bong in the photo and there is no suggestion Ms Tame used the bong at all.
It comes after Mrs Morrison told 60 Minutes in an interview with the Prime Minister that she wished Ms Tame had displayed more “manners and respect” after being invited into their home.
“I just found a little bit disappointing, because we were welcoming her in our home,” she said.
“I just wish the focus had been on all the incredible people coming in.
“I respect people that want to change things, stand up for their beliefs, and are strong, but I still think there are manners and respect.”
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also backed Mrs Morrison’s comments over the “disappointing” encounter.
“Jenny can say it but we can’t, (but) I agree with Jenny I have to say,” Mr Joyce told Seven News on Monday.
“I just think if you are going to see the Prime Minister, you respect the office if nothing else.
“You understand it is a great honour to be there.
“The Prime Minister does not own The Lodge, he holds the office – respect the office.
“And if you turn up, you know you’re doing it in front of the Australian people and you act with dignity and walk in, and you can still have your strong political views, you are absolutely entitled to them and entitled to voice them, but I do not think people roll with the theatrics.”
If you need help, please contact:
*National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service 24-hour helpline 1800 *RESPECT 1800 737 732
*Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
*Lifeline 13 11 14
*Safe At Home helpline on 1800 633 937
*SHE (free and confidential counselling and support) on 6278 9090
*Family Violence Crisis and Support Service on 1800 608 122
*Bravehearts – Sexual Assault Support for Children on 1800 BRAVE 1
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