Sheryl Lee Ralph Says a ‘Famous TV Judge’ Sexually Assaulted Her and ‘Everybody at the Network Saw It’

Actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph has alleged that a “famous TV judge” sexually assaulted her years ago and “everyone at the network saw it,” per Variety.

In an appearance on the Way Up With Angela Yee podcast, Lee Ralph revealed around the 36-minute mark that the unnamed TV judge assaulted her at a business event. “I’m at a very public place. I was suited. I had my suit on. I was handling my business for the television show I was on at that time. He and I were on the same network,” said Lee Ralph, who currently stars in the sitcom Abbott Elementary. “This man walked in, grabbed me by the back of my neck, turned me around and rammed his nasty ass tongue down my throat. And everybody at the network saw it.”

She didn’t speak about what network she was on at the time of the assault, either, but clarified that it wasn’t Judge Greg Mathis, who she called “a great man.” She said she chose to speak up about the experience because she wants to see other women hold abusers accountable. “Speak up, tell your truth, do not carry the burden of the pain,” she said, “especially if you feel like it’s something you can’t work through.”

After the incident, she was about to report the sexual assault to authorities but was advised against it by someone at the network. She spoke to Marc Morial, the former mayor of New Orleans, who was ready to get police involved. “Somebody on the network tapped on the shoulder saying, ‘Please don’t,’” she said. “They did not want any bad press around their show, and did not care what had just happened to me. They saw what happened.” Executives allegedly told her the incident “wasn’t so bad,” which she noted is the kind of thing that “makes it hard for women to speak up.”

Watch the full episode of the podcast with Sheryl Lee Ralph below.