AUSTIN, TEXAS — In a heartbreaking yet courageous messages on Instagram, former University of Texas at Austin basketball standout Jonathan Holmes on Friday acknowledged he was sexually abused as a child.
Holmes said the reason for his going public about the sexual molestation via the three-page message is twofold: To achieve the tactics of personal empowerment and to give strength to ohers who have endured similar abuse.
“The purpose of this ins’t to have anyone feel sorry for me or tell me how sorry they are for me,” Holmes wrote. “The purpose of this is to use the small platform that I have to give others who have gone through some of the same things confidence in knowing they aren’t alone.”
The former Longhorn said he kept the information private for more than 15 years, only revealing the ordeal when he was 22 year old. He described years of heavy drinking and other forms of self-medication that began as early as high school in his attempts to cope with trauma of past abuse.
He posited this personal approach as cautionary tale to other victims of sexual abuse, noting the benefits of therapy in coping.
“Come out and speak your truth no matter what,” Holmes wrote. “I’ve gone through depression, suicidal thoughts, and more pain than I can express.” T
Through that therapy, Holmes explained, he came to realize that “…what happened to me has unknowingly been a dark cloud over my life for years,” and the treatment helped him to achieve an understand that “…at my core, I am a dope person with nothing but love and happiness, and the people who truly know me know that for a fact.”
Homes ended his missive with advice to other victims of sexual abuse: “Don’t let abuse ruin your life no matter what the consequences for other may be. Including myself.”
After graduating from Antonian College Prep in San Antonio, Texas, Holmes played for the Longhorns from 2011-15 when he scored 9.2 points per game and averaged 5.2 rebounds in 127 career games in university play. He later played for the Boston Celtics in the NBA’s Summer League in 2015 before being signed, and later waived, by the Los Angeles Lakers later that year.
Holmes had stints with Memphis and Cleveland in 2016 before joining the Canton Charge and, later, FC Barcelona Lassa. Holmes rejoined Canton in 2017 and was briefly with Hapoel Tel Aviv that same year.
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