Amber Amour, 27, has received worldwide support in response to her heartfelt story.
Instead of keeping her emotions bottled up and suffering alone, she chose to immediately share her experience on social media following a traumatic incident of sexual assault.
While this may be a difficult read for many, it is crucial to bring attention to this important issue.
Amber, a 24-year-old from New York, was on a global tour to raise awareness about sexual abuse when she herself fell victim to rape one night.
During her tour in Cape Town, South Africa, a dark turn took place. Despite advocating against sexual violence, Amber was raped by a man in a shower during her campaign.
Earlier that evening, she encountered the man at a bar near her hostel. Due to a lack of hot water in her hostel while feeling unwell, she accepted his offer for a shower. Although she agreed to use the shower, she did not consent to any sexual activity. Unfortunately, the man proceeded to rape her multiple times in the shower.
However, Amber’s response after the assault was highly unusual for rape victims. Immediately after the incident, she shared photos and details on Instagram, exposing the horrific truth.
“I knew right away that I couldn’t keep this a secret. Here I was, advocating for victims every day to speak up, so I knew I had to practice what I preached,” she explained. “The first thing I did was take a photo and write the post.”
You can read the full post by Amber below, though be warned that it contains graphic details of the assault.
Following her post, Amber received an outpouring of support for her courage and openness in sharing her story with the world. However, she also faced criticism from individuals questioning her actions before the assault.
Despite the challenges, she chose to remain in South Africa to continue her activism and collaborate with the local authorities and the American embassy. Through social media, she continued to narrate her journey and address the negative feedback she received.
There is no excuse for any form of sexual violence. Consent is paramount, and anything other than a clear “yes” should always be considered a “no.”
Share this poignant yet empowering story to show solidarity with all victims of rape.
