Debra Byrne’s Young Talent Time abuse claims backed up by another star
A former Young Talent Time star believes “every word” of Debra Byrne’s sexual abuse claims, saying he questioned why the adults didn’t step in.
Confidential
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Former Young Talent Time star Debra Byrne has received support from former co-star Jamie Redfern, who says people need to stop thinking of the show as “television utopia”.
Redfern says he believes every word Byrne said after she repeated claims she was a victim of sexual abuse while appearing on the show.
In a series of emotional Facebook videos posted on the eve of the YTT 50th anniversary two weeks ago, she said she was still suffering as a result of childhood trauma.
Host Johnny Young told the Herald Sun he hoped Byrne would find peace and alluded to her battle with mental problems.
Redfern, an original YTT cast member who went on to become a huge singer and performer in the US, wrote an article this week on tagg.com.au offering support to Byrne.
It was titled “My Friend Needs Validation and Support — Here It Is”.
“After some long telephone conversations with my dear friend, the super talented, Debra Byrne — I think she’s far from crazy and tend to believe what she is saying — EVERY WORD,’’ he concluded.
Redfern wrote: “Deb says that the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of older men connected to the YTT machine wouldn’t have happened if she’d been suitably protected by YTT production staff.
“Can I add some weight to her assertion? Yes, regrettably I can. I told Deb on the phone the other night that I remember feeling very confused as to why certain older guys were allowed access to her with virtually no supervision. I remember thinking to myself “it must be OK, or the adults would step in”.
He added: “Deb asked if I’d had any bad experiences with JY myself. The answer is yes — but as I mentioned earlier, I’m not someone to let anything get me down forever. I forgive and forget. Well, let’s say I forgive. That being said, if what Deb alleges is true and had been done to me — my attitude would be very different. I may be a Christian, as Deb is, but I’m all too human as well.”
Redfern only spent 10 months on YTT before being taken overseas on a tour of the US and Canada.
He wrote: “People link me to the show in such a powerful way which has always made me feel very proud — YTT fans are the best. Sadly though, a handful of our supporters only want to hear good stories and nothing negative about the YTT experience.
“They see YTT as a kind of television Utopia, and don’t want the illusion to be shattered.”
Byrne also said she found it disgraceful and disgusting having been asked to appear on the show’s 50th reunion by Young.
“Oh I haven’t moved on, that’s not why I said no to a reunion. My reason is I find it very difficult to move on from what happened to me as a child,” Byrne said.
“When I decided to confront John about the sexual abuse that occurred, of course his responses were very aggressive and victim shaming, telling me that I was crazy, that he would never do anything like that.”
Byrne is currently starring in The Music of the Night — The Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber at Chapel off Chapel.
Byrne says she has suffered throughout her life as a result of childhood trauma.
“It was pretty much impossible to talk to anybody and if you did, for whatever reasons, the adults in your life didn’t know how to manage it,” she said.
“Didn’t know how to deal with it and really there was probably no services available to help deal with it. If you did, it was an excruciating process for the victim of the abuse.”
In 2014, Byrne posted on Facebook that she was sexually assaulted in a swimming pool while filming a segment for the show.
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