Yesterday, news trickled out that Cleveland kidnap victims Amanda Berry and Gina De Jesus have signed a book deal with Pulitzer Prize winning writer Mary Jordan.
Today, there’s word that an exclusive interview between celebrity psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw and the third kidnap victim, Michelle Knight, will air in a three-part series beginning in November.
Since a release date for the Berrry/De Jesus book has yet to be set, Knight will officially be the first of the three women to speak out about what really happened in the infamous house of horrors where she, Berry, and De Jesus were held against their will for more than a decade.
According to a press release regarding the upcoming episodes, “Knight recalls the day-to-day details of her decade in captivity in a manner than can be described as passionate, moving and poignant. She is the self-proclaimed, most hated victim in the house, and according to Knight, suffered the most abuse at the hands of Castro.”
In the release, Dr. Phil went on to say, “Michelle Knight’s story of horror and courageous survival almost defies description and has changed me like no other in 12 years of doing the show. Her dark journey from victim to victor is beyond compelling.”
The three-part interview will air at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, Tuesday, Nov. 5 and Wednesday, Nov. 6, on WKYC Channel 3.
This article appears in Oct 16-22, 2013.
Well, six months out and they’re already looking for more money.
I kind of wish these girls would just keep to their word and not talk about it, I mean, it kind of cheapens them that they ask for privacy and now they’re just going to tell their whole story.
That’s the way the world works, isn’t it? Trauma, pain and suffering make for great reads and greater dollars.
I thought that maybe they’d just focus on getting back to normal life and let the past go, but they seem more interested in dollar signs then their dignity.
Even after ten years of learning what really matters it all boils down to book deals and TV appearances.
I’ve just a lost a little respect for them. Shame, because I really admired them.
I think the Courage fund, the bill compensating them and all the other donations and privacy is a great way to get back on their feet; not selling themselves out and giving in to the idiot media.
Though I guess they’ve been prodded since day one of their escape to sell out, huh?
How can I respect something that isn’t kept private?
People write books and tell their stories all the time. It’s their choice to tell what happened to them. Who cares if you respect them or not? Don’t buy the book. It’s a story of survival and triumph over evil and maybe they want it told in their own words. I sincerely doubt any amount of money can “compensate” for the years of hell this monster put them through, but if they make some money, good for them. They have their whole lives ahead of them and Amanda Berry has a daughter to take care of. Maybe they want to continue their educations, maybe they want to take a trip, maybe they’ll donate some of it. Who are you to judge?
I am pleased that they are telling THEIR STORY and why not make money from it, if they can. 10 YEARS OF THEIR LIVES ARE GONE; a little girl has to carry the burden of her father not only being a predator, but also how she was conceived, his cowardly act of sucide and the scars it has left her mother. Three women, will be judge for the rest of their lives over something they had no control over. YES TELL YOUR STORY AND GET PAID DOING IT. SOCIETY OWES YOU!!!
its funny that hearing both sides of the argument of whether they should or shouldn’t tell their story I’ve found I agree with both in a way. I mean I don’t really care if they do or don’t but a part of me lost some sympathy. Not respect but how can I feel so terrible for what happened to them when in the end it’s going to make their lives very financially comfortable. Either way I wish those girls the best and hey if they wanna gives a look at the dark side of the moon I’m interested.
These young ladies deserve to make money. I hope they get filthy, stinking rich, to be honest. I mean, if they don’t deserve it, who does? They had a decade of their lives stolen from them. And America may benefit from hearing their stories. We can learn more about the sort of predator that does this. Everybody wins. I intend to watch the Dr. Phil interview and I intend to purchase the book.
Why shouldn’t they get something out of the deal? In a way, I understand about it looking and being bad to capitalize off of someone’s misery, and keeping the memory of that misery alive by publishing books about it and what not…But, IMHO, if anyone should be able to come up off of this particular misery, it should be the ones who endured it. I think there is something cathartic in finally being able to tell your story. I also agree that the interview and the books (if not edited for sensationalism) could be helpful in learning more about the type of creeps that do this sort of thing. I, for one, am very interested to hear how they survived mentally. It makes me value my life that much more. And if it turns out to be a lucrative deal, then wonderful.
They will need financial security; their lives, their educations, their goals, their earning power were all on hold. They should not have to add anxiety about how they’re going to live on
top of the unspeakable pain they’ve already been through.
And, the stories to be told would not have financial gain attached to them
if the public did not have such an insatiable appetite for them.
People all heal in their own way, Michelle’s story is different than the other two, and if she feels the need to say it then she should. Whatever financial arrangement is attached to it we don’t know about, and I don’t feel the need to speculate about. I hope that she finds any peace in talking to Dr. Phil and is able to continue with her healing process.
The resilience of these young women is admirable, but accused pedophiles/child molesters like Ariel Castro, Sylvain Kustyan, Jerry Sandusky, etc. (and their enablers) must be apprehended before they have years to continue to destroy young lives. Sandusky and Ariel are now out of the picture. But unfortunately, Kustyan, who has been formally charged with two counts each of 1st Degree Sodomy and Sexual Abuse of a ten-year-old little boy, fled to avoid imminent arrest. Kustyan, formerly of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Hermin/ Mazingarbe, France, has led numerous groups of schoolchildren on trips to the US, the UK and Ireland. Perpetrators condemn their victims to a lifetime of emotional and psychological trauma and often permanent physical ailments as well. Since the average pedophile has 300 different victims in their lifetime and since the recidivism rate among pedophiles is virtually 100% and since there is no effective treatment and no known cure, they and their enablers must be stopped ASAP!
Not many people come through trauma without it destroying them. These women should never keep quiet. Soldiers tell their war stories, well this was their war. The war that they fought and won. The war that many fight but lose. They not only lost a decade of their lives they suffered pain in so many ways that even the money they make off of their stories will never heal it. The pain will forever be tattooed on their soul but unlike a scar of pain, it is a reminder of their strength and endurance. Michelle, Amanda and Gina deserve a great life, one that is full of happiness and love. They have been given a new chance at life and a story of lifetime to share and heal.
I just saw the appearance by Michelle Knight on Dr Phil. All three kidnapped women deserve financial help. They’re going to spend decades in therapy and treating the physical repercussions of the ordeal. We need to demonstrate compassion, support and grace with more than just words and a few dollars donated still won’t be enough. I am forever respectful of them.
I feel that michelle knight is really strong to come out and tell the world… Can u imagine how many young girls that have been kidnapped and is going through the same thing… this world is full of sick people like that.. This should be a lesson for every one to look, and speak out. Some times its good to have nosey neighbors because they would be the one to know and see things when it comes to your love ones.. These girls will be traumatized for the rest of their poor little lifes… Honestly I would be scared to be alone and be around people I don’t know… So they deserve all the attention they can get… I do have one question.. I didn’t get to see the show so does any one know what I can go under and see full episodes.. Every thing is in part.
Well, six months out and they’re already looking for more money.
Posted by weewrew on 10/22/2013 at 2:41 PM ,
How can you say this, the women were held in a horrible prison for a decade and more then a decade for Michelle Knight, I can never imagine the hell they lived 365 days a year for 10 years and how each one survived is amazing and to say let the past go, it will never be in the past. But they are doing good for all they been through but this part of there life will haunt them till the day they die at a old age 100 years I pray. They are not asking for money or fame
e Doctor Phil came to Michelle Knight on his own. I am truly Amazed at how strong these young ladies are and for speaking out, I hope it teaches people and young people not to trust so easy. You know when I was young I was very trustful I use to get in cars by strangers and go to peoples house when asked not even knowing the people and got my self in a couple really bad situations and was lucky to get out of the car and home, by giving into what they demanded from me and felt like scum afterwards. I hope each of these women keep on going and can tell the whole world and can always be useful to all they meet. I hope they will never be in need of anything for the rest of their life. They been robbed of their teen years, their friends, family, graduations, Christmas, all holidays everything you can think of and Michelle Knight is not big as anything and what her moms boyfriend did to her son and she lost her son due to that because she could not protect him and was robbed of not maybe getting her son back. You need to re think how you put and say things and I strongly disagree with you.
What I meant in my other comment
what I meant is I pray they live to a 100 not be haunted.
Response to WeeWrew’s comments of 10.22.13, 2:41pm:
Your insensitive and repulsive comments reveals your character, and puts you in the same category as Ariel Castro….CALLOUS and INHUMANE!! Any HUMANE person, with feelings, would have compassion even for their worst enemy in this situation! You obviously have NOT put yourself in their shoes to even “try to comprehend” the depths of what these girls went thru for a decade. This was a traumatic, ever-changing life experience for anyone to go thru and still come out ALIVE! You, or anyone else probably would have wanted to give up and die instead of enduring this hell for 10 years….which would have been easier and with less pain.
They endured this hell among themselves; so, who are we to say they should keep that experience to themselves? That would be going thru the same “captivity” they went thru to hold it in, as you commented. These YOUNG women are to be commended for their strength, endurance, and will to LIVE. They outsmarted their captor and are here to talk about it! They will forever be changed.
And so what if they write a book or do interviews, and make money in the process! We all must work and make a living. If this is their calling to go around the country speaking to help other people, let them do it! Have you ever heard of the healing process? It’s different for each person, and this may be what one or all three girls may need….only they know. If they choose to talk, do books, or interviews, they heal a little more each time. So, don’t condemn them any more than what they’ve been thru. You have no understanding of nor have walked in their shoes to know.
In response to the dick head that thinks that these girls don’t deserve every dime they get from this tragedy–dude, can you imagine being imprisoned, tortured, raped, starved, beaten for 10+ years? I bet you can’t, that is why you choose to judge what these girls went through. You are a poor excuse for a human and you even sound envious of the attention this case has gotten. Are you insane? These women and that child survived horrific circumstances and they deserve to be able to live their lives in a way that turns the tragedy into success and peace for themselves: NO MATTER HOW THAT GETS ACCOMPLISHED. Do you realize how uncomfortable and near impossible it would be for them to get jobs, and “get on with their lives” like YOU think they should? I am glad they are making appearances, writing books, and getting money. THEY DESERVE IT. And Castro deserves to burn in hell for eternity. It is not like even if he lived that they would get any restiutution from him. If people like myself or even Dr Phil want to make donations to them, and the book deal or other appearances are the way they will be able to live, SO BE IT. Get off your high horse in your little perfect life and realize what a douche almost everyone reading this feed thinks you are.
Addressed to: WeeWrew on 10/22/2013 at 2:41 PM
What a dumb ass unintelligent heartless person you are, a poor excuse as a human being. You, me, no one can ever imagine the hell and agony and torture these 3 women went through for a decade. Being beaten, raped over and over and over, chained up, starved, lived in filth, darkness, beyond fear, not knowing if they were ever going to see the outside and their families and friends again that is if they lived and survived. They been robbed of everything you can think of, and for you to say let it be in the past. You wrote…[I thought that maybe they’d just focus on getting back to normal life and let the past go, but they seem more interested in dollar signs then their dignity.—Only a dumb ass dick head would come up with a statement like this.] How can they ever live a normal life after all the hell they went through. You wrote…[Even after ten years of learning what really matters it all boils down to book deals and TV appearances.—How do you call this learning being held prisoners in darkness and beaten and starved, you call this learning I honestly think you must be evil minded to even think like this. Learning while not knowing if they would ever see the light of day and eat again and being fearful of how times a day they would be beaten or starved or raped. You wrote…[How can I respect something that isn’t kept private?—Oh ok let’s keep it private, you stupid idiot the whole entire world should be shouting for joy that a miracle happened the day they escaped, it’s only by the Grace of God they escaped. I could never in my life imagine what they been through. I pray for the rest of their life they won’t never be in need, won’t have to worry about nothing, I pray they keep on telling their story of how they survived and they can always stand up tall and be strong and brave and never be broken again. I pray for success for them and their books sell all around the world to help and teach others and to show others how they survived. I will buy every book they sell, I will watch every talk show, everything they are on I will watch and go to just to hear them because they are 3 Amazing women and has come a long ways. I hope they have all the money, support, everything and the money they will always get I pray they do what ever they want, go on trips, vacations, education for their self and their daughter. @WeeWrew, I AGREE YOU ARE A DOUCHE AND YOU NEED TO CLIMB DOWN OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE ASSHOLE!!
What do U mean that U can’t respect something if it isn’t kept private? Those so ridiculous. It’s therapeutic for them to talk about it. They should be compensated for the torture & abuse they went thru, there isn’t enough money that could possibly buy their soul back. There souls were stolen from them. For a person to admonish them because they are getting money for their stories is very sad. Those people should understand that it’s their right, to tell their story & be paid monies, there’s nothing wrong with that, what is wrong, is to tell the girls they shouldn’t make any money at all. They deserve & have earned every single penny that’s given to them. Obviously WeeWrew has his/her own problems, otherwise he/she wouldn’t be thinking so negatively about the entire story. I think we should all feel very sad for WeeWrew, bcuz they lack the insight of seeing what this entire story is all about. We raise our arms to Michelle & the other 2 girls, for having the courage to come out & tell us about their most personal horrifying tragedy they will ever experience.
I will bet they still want privacy. They want privacy from answering 1 million questions 1 million times over from 1 million different people. They don’t want to be gawked at, photographed, stared at or viewed as weird different or unusual. They now realize that they must live the rest of their life without resources and must scramble for whatever resources they can get. By now some of the sting is wearing off and they are becoming emotionally stronger and will be able to tell their story in their own words and on their own terms without having to respond to someone else’s question or comment. These three are not going to get a $20 million settlement from the state of Ohio. It is highly unlikely for a variety of reasons that they will be able to work for a living in either the short or long-term. They must make a living anyway they can.