Actor Terry Crews delivered a powerful testimony before the US Senate over his alleged sexual assault, fighting back tears as he explained not fighting off the attacker.
The Expendables star and former NFL player testified at a hearing on proposed legislation known as the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights.
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Crews was asked by Senator Dianne Feinstein why he didn't respond with violence against his alleged assailant, noting he's a "big, powerful man".
"Senator, as a black man in America, you only have a few shots at success. You only have a few chances to make yourself a viable member of the community," Crews said.
"I'm from Flint, Michigan. I have seen many, many young black men who were provoked into violence, and they were in prison, or they were killed. And they're not here."
The 49-year-old went on to credit his wife with training him to never become violent, no matter how others may provoke him.
Crews alleges a high-level Hollywood agent groped him at a party in 2016.
"The assault lasted only minutes, but what he was effectively telling me while he held my genitals in his hand, was that he held the power... that he was in control," Crews told the Senate Judiciary Committee in his opening statement.
He also said that he reported the alleged attack to the agent's company the day after it happened.
"I was told, 'We're gonna do everything in our power. We are gonna handle this, Terry. You're right, it is unacceptable'," he said.
"And then they disappeared."
According to Variety, Crews filed a lawsuit against agent Adam Venit and employer William Morris Endeavours.
Newshub.
