‘Housewives of Potomac’ star Karen Huger reveals she was sexually assaulted

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“Real Housewives of Potomac” star Karen Huger was date-raped at age 19, and now, she is speaking out on behalf of other survivors to fight the “alarming” suicide rate among those who survive sexual assault.

“I was raped almost 35 years ago,” she told PageSix, adding, “The fact that I survived is part of my reality and I’m hoping that message resonates with the viewers.”

Now 54, Huger describes what happened as “a typical date that went totally off the rails,” though she is not naming her attacker except to say that he is dead now but was once a public figure.

“If he were alive today it might be a different story,” she said. “I’d like to have it out with him. But I forgave him a long time ago, that is why I lead I life I do today, forgiveness is a part of it.”

She told her story on Sunday’s episode of RHOP and spoke about her work with the non-profit organization Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment (PAVE).

“We were having our differences as we normally do but at this moment we stood to honor, to respect and unify and I am eternally grateful,” she said of her “very supportive” cast members. “They opened their wallets and that’s a beautiful thing.”

In all, Huger hopes to help survivors see that they still have control of their lives and their destinies despite what has happened to them.

“I have had a full life now [and] I did it victoriously, that’s the message I want: there are choices we can make – I chose empowerment. It wasn’t easy but I choose to be among the empowered,” she said.