Amy Schumer Tells Howard Stern: ‘I Didn’t Have A Perfect Rape’

Amy Schumer has been the central figure in an escalating issue of sexual assault, and she is bringing her stand against the rape culture in the United States to the forefront. Following the recent online remarks made by Inside Amy Schumer writer Kurt Metzger, Amy has expressed her disappointment in Metzger and her inability to condone the remarks. Schumer used Twitter to distance herself from the incident, but the limit on character usage compelled her to speak more thoroughly in a new interview with Howard Stern, allowing Schumer to expand on her thoughts about the rape culture in general.

Amy Schumer Describes The Perfect Rape To Howard Stern

In a tweet meant to distance herself from Metzger, Schumer noted that she “couldn’t be more against his recent actions,” but some of Amy’s fans felt that she could have taken a stronger stance against her fellow comedian and Inside Amy Schumer employee. Now, Vanity Fair reveals Schumer’s greater stance on rape culture and sexual assault, which she discussed while visiting Howard Stern’s radio show.

The comedian and actress has always been open about her sexual history, including her own personal experience as a victim of sexual assault, but her discussion with Stern was even more direct and far more serious than her stand-up routines. Schumer talks to Howard about how the attitudes of people, both men and women, intimidate rape victims into keeping quiet about their experiences.

“People, they want you to have been raped perfectly, and they want you to be a perfect victim. People hear me say that and they go, ‘no, she’s like a slut’ and ‘I bet she knew’ — like, right away, you start doubting,” says Schumer. “We’re so critical and it makes victims really not wanna speak up, and so I think it’s me saying, look, I didn’t have a perfect rape.”

Amy just released her own memoir, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, and one chapter is dedicated to telling her own story about having been the victim of acquaintance rape, one of the least reported types of sexual assault.

Amy Schumer Lost Her Virginity “Not In A Cool Way”

Entertainment Weekly reveals that Amy Schumer is still affected by the incident of acquaintance rape, which is recounted in The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo. Amy tells of having been on a date with her boyfriend turned assailant and says she had been victimized by him as she slept. Later, Schumer reassured him, when he expressed remorse at what he had done. She even stayed with him as the relationship turned abusive. The comedian reveals that she was “messed up” by the experience.

“We’re so critical, and it makes victims really not want to speak up,” Schumer said of what she describes as the “grey area rape” and what is more commonly known as date rape.

“And so it’s me saying, ‘Look, I didn’t have a perfect rape, but my virginity was taken from me, and it was not in a cool way.'”

Schumer says the incident left her with trust issues, which she has carried with her throughout her life. Ultimately, Amy says she found herself pursuing similar relationships and also ended up in another abusive relationship. Now, Amy hopes to help others by sharing her story of rape, abuse, and survival.

“It’s messed up,” Ms. Schumer added. “And it’s not fair. And that shouldn’t have happened to me. And I hope [speaking out] stops it from happening to even one person.”

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo consists of 35 chapters, the same number of years Amy Schumer has been alive. In addition to her candid story of rape, abuse, and survival, the memoir also contains diary entries from Schumer’s childhood, three lists, and instructions for her funeral. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo is currently available.

[Image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]