07/31/2012
Actress Tiffani Thiessen was just 15 years old when she got the part of Kelly Kapowski, the squeaky-clean all-American cheerleader on the hugely popular sitcom Saved By The Bell. Who would have guessed that at the time she was already sexually active – with a boyfriend that was five years her senior?
Tiffani revealed the shocking fact on her recent appearance on The Howard Stern Show. Here’s the clip, followed by some of the questions and answers from the interview:
HOWARD STERN: So you lost your virginity at 14? You were moving on a fast track!
TIFFANI THIESSEN: Ugh. Yes. Now, having a daughter, it’s really hard to talk about.
Are you going to tell your daughter that you…
I’m not going to be dishonest with her, because honestly, for me — you I think my mom can at least rest easy that it wasn’t a one time thing, that I actually was with the guy for five years.
Are you sorry that you had sex at 14 now? When you look back on your life do you say, “Gee, I wish I had waited because then I would have kind of, maybe, appreciated it more.”
You know, I try not to have a lot of regrets. I really don’t. And I don’t think I can say that.
I’m thinking about this guy you were with. He could have legally been a sex offender! If your parents had pressed charges against him…
Yeah. Yes. You’re absolutely right.
…he could have gone to jail. Isn’t it a miracle that your old man didn’t take that gun and shoot him right in the head?
I know.
If you’re like me the interview had you wondering whether Tiffani’s boyfriend could still get in trouble for his actions. When she was a teenager Tiffani lived in California, and according to their laws the statute of limitations on statutory rape (that doesn’t involve violence or child molestation) is three years.
Damn, 14 sure is young! Tiffani’s daughter Harper is only two – I wonder if her “no regrets” stance will hold up when Harper turns 14.
I find it interesting that she is not damaged for life. The statement in the defense of the registry that destroys a person's life is that the victim is damaged beyond repair for life. Some could be and the damage is often the trauma of the system as much as the event. So sure when they know that the person they willfully had sex with life is ruined beyond repair. they have been put through the system as well there is no doubt they are damaged. However what part does the system have in the damage and what part does the event? Listening to this person she was abused for years. the person that did it is no different then many of us in our teen years and just because he was not prosecuted doesn't change this in anyway. The situation is the same. She just didn't have a reason to want to prosecute. So the question is. Are they more damaged by the system or the event?
ReplyDeleteMany of the victims of abuse were abused by family members. The system prosecutes and persecutes the offender for life. the back lash of this is the victim is always going to be connected to the offender. Many times still live with the offender. so they are damaged by the registration laws as well. How productive is this. How much more damage does the system have to do to ensure the victims are damaged for life?
The more laws. the less reporting. Every time a new laws is enacted getting tougher on sex offenders one more reason to keep the secret. I'm not saying what goes on is right. People need help to heal and change. Less and less will get the mental help they need the way we are going. Problem is if it isn't stopped abuse will continue from generation to generation. Why are we making it impossible to change this? Never mind the amount of money that changes hands as money is the root of all evil and frankly the system is beyond evil.
What is truly shocking about this is that H. Stern is still on the air and apparently has people listening.... is the shock value not completely gone?
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