Jennifer Lewis is an actress known for playing strong female roles in film and on television. In real life though, the former ‘black*ish star has gone through a LOT- such as her battle with sex addiction and her struggles with bipolar disorder. She’s also revealed another hardship from her past– one that required Ms. Lewis, as she stated, to give “the greatest performance of my life.”

We’re talking about the time when Jennifer was confronted by an intruder inside her home, and found enough inner strength and rational thought in that terrifying moment to talk her way out of getting raped. In her memoir, Mother of Black Hollywood, Lewis tells all about the attempted rape, as she relives the unfortunate incident like it happened yesterday…

Jennifer Lewis Describes How She Talked Her Way Out Of Being Raped By Intruder

When she was a 20-something-year-old struggling actress, living in a small New York city apartment, a rapist posed as a delivery man barged into her home after she answered the door. He held a knife to her throat and threatened her, as he proceeded to try to rape her. Jennifer had to remain calm and think fast to save herself. And think she did!

She was able to convince her would-be-rapist that she had a viral sexually transmitted disease that would make him very ill if he had sexual contact with her. In addition to that creative lie, Lewis was also able to “act” like she cared about the man’s feelings, to get him to ultimately settle down. Here’s what she revealed:

Via People: “Suddenly a guy came into my apartment with a knife,” the black-ish actress tells PEOPLE of being in her early 20s in New York City. “He tried to rape, but I talked myself out of that. It was the greatest performance of my life.”

Lewis was scared to death during that ‘greatest performance of her life,’ but thankfully she survived it and is now able to share it with the world. People Magazine provided the following excerpts from Jenifer Lewis’ book, Mother of Black Hollywood, where she explains what happened after she was finally able to get the rapist to change his mind:

“I shouldn’t be doing this!” [the attacker said.] “Especially to a sister. They locked me up for some s— I didn’t do! I just got out.” … Suddenly I saw how skinny, fragile, and vulnerable this kid was. I sat down next to him and put my arm around his shoulder.

“I’m sorry that happened to you. I will help you. Let me give you my number and you can call me.” “I’m sorry. I know you are gonna tell, but I just want you to know I am sorry.”

He was not evil. He was just f—– up. He left and I stood in shock. Then I fell to my knees and fainted.

Watch Jenifer Lewis Discuss Rapist Incident

Incredible! When it comes to Jennifer Lewis and the many struggles we now know she’s overcome in her life, the term, “strong,” is an understatement. Salute to Ms. Lewis for telling her story.

The post How Jenifer Lewis Talked Rapist Out Of Raping Her: “It Was The Greatest Performance Of My Life” appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

“We are as sick as our secrets, so I tell everything,” that’s what legendary actress, Jenifer Lewis, said about her addiction and mental health disorder in an interview. In fact, telling everything about the most deepest, darkest stages of her life is exactly what she did in her tell-all memoir, “Mother of Black Hollywood.”

For decades, the former “black*ish” actress has either had us crackin’ up, or sparked some other type of emotion within us, by way of her scene-stealing performances on-screen.What most of us didn’t know, is that underneath all of the talent that Ms. Lewis possesses, she was struggling with serious battles behind closed doors. Battles that oftentimes put her in dangerous positions.

In her prior interview with People Magazine, Lewis discussed her decades-long battle with bipolar disorder, and her sex addiction. We commend Ms. Lewis for revealing her personal struggles to the world. Below are some excerpts from her interview.

Jenifer Lewis’s Struggles With Bipolar Disorder

After Jenifer therapist, Rachel, diagnosed her with bipolar disorder in her early 30’s, it took Jenifer four to five more years to actually agree to medication:

“Had she said, ‘you’re crazy,’ I would have agreed. I had been crazy all my life,” [Jenifer Lewis] writes. “When she said, ‘mental illness,’ I thought, ‘b—-, you crazy.’ I associated mental illness with people who couldn’t function, with straitjackets. I certainly knew what a depressive mood was, but this other ‘manic’ part was new. When Rachel explained the details, I gasped. You mean, there is a name for describing why I talk fast and walk fast and rage, create drama, and speed when I drive a car? Compulsive, you say? The doodling, the braiding and unbraiding my hair? The arguing with people and storming off ? Kicking s—, throwing s—? Yeah, okay, I guess all of that describes me.”

In response to her therapist suggesting medication, Jenifer resisted initially: “I am Jenifer MothaF—in’ Lewis, you aren’t going to turn me into a zombie.” But now she’s grateful that she has now decided to take the medication she needs:

“My responses were no longer as extreme. No matter what big issue or catastrophe loomed, I could say, ‘bring it’ and move forward. I was better able to listen and be present and aware of the world around me.”

Lewis Explains Her Sex Addiction

Jennier Lewis on how she didn’t develop her sex addiction until after moving to New York City and performing on Broadway:

“Performing on Broadway was a rush. The applause coming over the footlights was like a tsunami in slow motion. The crash after the show, I assure you, is just as intense. Let’s just say that post show I had a sort of habit of sex serving as a night cap. I was Cleopatra, Pam Grier, Marilyn Monroe, and Jezebel rolled into one. For me, nothing could extend the thrill of a standing ovation like great sex with a gorgeous guy.”

“Just as alcoholism isn’t really about the liquor, my addiction wasn’t really about the sex. It was about the unresolved psychological problems that caused me pain. Sex was simply my painkiller,” she writes.

In A Much Healthier Space Now

“I have peace of mind now; I’m in my skin,” Lewis tells People Magazine. “It took years to get to that place, but I did it—and I have a smile on my face.”

Jenifer Lewis is definitely helping many others who are secretly battling the same struggles…some of whom may not even realize they have an issue, until they read about Lewis’ past struggles.

If you or someone you know are suffering from bipolar disorder, or sex addiction, please know that you’re not alone. Here are links that can help:
Bipolar Disorder
National Alliance of Mental Illness
American Psychiatric Association

Sex Addiction
Sex Addicts Anonymous
Addiction-Treatment

The post Jenifer Lewis Confessed Her Sex Addiction, Mental Battle Put Her In Dangerous Situations appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Jennifer Lewis Describes How She Talked Her Way Out Of Being Raped By Intruder

When she was a 20-something year old struggling actress, living in a small New York city apartment, a rapist posed as a delivery man and barged into her home after she answered the door. He held a knife to her throat and threatened her, as he proceeded to try to rape her. Jennifer had to remain calm and think fast to save herself…and think she did!

She was able to convince her would-be-rapist that she had a viral sexually transmitted disease that would make him very ill if he had sexual contact with her. In addition to that creative lie, Lewis was also able to “act” like she cared about the man’s feelings, to get him to ultimately settle down. Here’s what she revealed:

Via People: “Suddenly a guy came into my apartment with a knife,” the black-ish actress tells PEOPLE of being in her early 20s in New York City. “He tried to rape, but I talked myself out of that. It was the greatest performance of my life.”

Lewis was scared to death during that ‘greatest performance of her life,’ but thankfully she survived it and is now able to share it with the world. People Magazine provided the following excerpts from Jenifer Lewis’ upcoming book, Mother of Black Hollywood, where she explains what happened after she was finally able to get the rapist to change his mind:

“I shouldn’t be doing this!” [the attacker said.] “Especially to a sister. They locked me up for some s— I didn’t do! I just got out.” … Suddenly I saw how skinny, fragile, and vulnerable this kid was. I sat down next to him and put my arm around his shoulder.

“I’m sorry that happened to you. I will help you. Let me give you my number and you can call me.” “I’m sorry. I know you are gonna tell, but I just want you to know I am sorry.”

He was not evil. He was just f—– up. He left and I stood in shock. Then I fell to my knees and fainted.

Watch Jenifer Lewis Discuss Rapist Incident

Incredible! When it comes to Jennifer Lewis and the many struggles we now know she’s overcome in her life, the term, “strong,” is an understatement. Salute to Ms. Lewis for telling her story. Her new tell-all memoir, Mother of Black Hollywood -where she details her sex addiction, her bipolar struggles, and many more challenges she’s endured- releases in stores and online on November 14, 2017. You can also pre-order a copy of it HERE.

The post How Jenifer Lewis Talked Rapist Out Of Raping Her: “It Was The Greatest Performance Of My Life” appeared first on I Love Old School Music.