Actor John Stamos has recently opened up about traumatic memories from his childhood involving alleged sexual abuse by a former babysitter.
Stamos, now 60, said these memories resurfaced while he was working on his upcoming memoir titled “If You Would Have Told Me,” which is set to release on October 24, 2023.
In an interview, the “Full House” actor mentioned that he used to “play dead” as a tactic to get the female babysitter to stop during the abusive incidents, which occurred when he was 10 or 11. This recollection was something he had previously dismissed, unclearly associating it with a phrase akin to “Ah, it’s girls, man.” Now, looking back, he acknowledged, “I shouldn’t have had to deal with those feelings.”
Though the memories had always lingered in the background, Stamos had effectively packed them away, a common coping mechanism many adopt when confronted with traumatic events. He touched upon the incident in his memoir, but chose to keep it concise, as he didn’t want it to be the focus of the narrative.
In addition to revealing this part of his past, Stamos delved into personal matters of his love life. Specifically, he discussed the aftermath of his divorce from Rebecca Romijn.
The separation left Stamos with intense feelings of animosity toward his ex-wife, once even referring to her as “the devil.” This resentment, he believed, stemmed from the perception that Romijn left him as her career was flourishing more than his.
However, with time, reflection, and sobriety, Stamos has come to a realization. He acknowledged his part in the downfall of their marriage, admitting that the burden was not solely on Romijn. Stamos confessed that his bitterness towards Romijn led him down a path of excessive alcohol consumption.
For Stamos, the hardships and heartaches he underwent eventually led him to find love again. Today, he is happily married to Caitlin McHugh Stamos, and together they share a son. This new chapter in his life, along with the upcoming memoir, symbolizes Stamos’ journey of introspection, healing, and personal growth.
Rebecca Romijn, on the other hand, has also spoken about the nuances of their relationship. In a May 2022 episode of “The Talk,” Romijn shared that she harbors several fond memories with Stamos and misses many aspects of their time together.
She likened divorce to a failure and expressed sorrow over things she had to let go of, but emphasized the many positive memories they made.
Amid these revelations, Stamos clarified that despite Romijn’s sentiments, the two have not communicated directly since their last meeting with divorce attorneys.
