Debby Ryan: 'Jessie' Opens up About Past Abusive Relationship, Says It 'Was Such Emotional Manipulation'
Disney actress and singer Debby Ryan opened up about her experiences with once being in an abusive relationship in a recent interview with Teen Vogue, Us Weekly reports.
Ryan, who is now an advocate for the domestic violence campaign "Don't Look Away," revealed she was often manipulated and verbally abused by someone with whom she once had a working relationship.
Though her relationship never became anything romantic, Ryan recalls the unidentified person wanting to be attached to every part of her life. The verbal and mental abuse escalated so much to the point where it later became physical.
"We had a professional relationship and it was such emotional manipulation to the point where it became physical, and it stopped before it got too far," Ryan said. "The second someone puts their hand on you, a boundary has been crossed. If anyone is feeling manipulated or abused, that's the best it's going to get and you have to fight for yourself now."
When Ryan did find the courage to separate herself from the person, who she insists is not ex-boyfriend Josh Dunn, Ryan remembers the person punching a wall and throwing her phone at her.
"I hadn't talked to him in a month," she said. "I told him to leave my life. So he threw a phone at me and it shattered to pieces and he was screaming, punching the wall, and cussing me out. Then he started bawling and said he's sorry and loves me."
Now that Ryan is an advocate for a domestic violence prevention campaign, she is able to look back and give advice on warning signs to look out for if one feels that they are being abused.
"People that demand your password and always look over your shoulder, ask who you're texting, and grab your phone and let themselves in -- that's not okay," she said.
Through Ryan's partnership with "Don't Look Away," domestic abuse victims can text "love is" to 22522 to receive help from trained advocates on how to escape an abusive relationship.
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