“Wine, Women and Song” with Lucy DeCoutere helps support SASCWR

From the Ghomeshi trial, to Trailer Park Boys – a Canadian actress will be making a stop in Kitchener to speak about the last few years of her life in and out of the limelight.

Lucy DeCoutere was already a well-known actress, but thrown even further into the spotlight after testifying against former CBC broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi at his sexual assault trial.

Ghomeshi was ultimately found not guilty in March of 2016 – and DeCoutere says it hasn’t been easy being one of his most recognizable, and vocal accusers.

In an interview with 570 NEWS, DeCoutere says she didn’t know her involvement in the Ghomeshi trial would result in any backlash whatsoever.

“I didn’t have any understanding that this would have negative backlash .. as I didn’t think it would have any interest, and would just be a two-day news cycle. You have to keep in mind, the man involved was just a radio host – so I didn’t think talking about this would capture so much attention. I didn’t plan initially to embark on a criminal trial, as I didn’t think it was even in the cards.”

She adds going public with her allegations came with a great gravity, and also a heavy weight on her shoulders.

“I didn’t realize that fame from talking about something very personal, and fame from playing a fictional character, would be so different .. and just talking to the press, or anyone, would have a different feel. Talking about Trailer Park Boys is a lot different than talking about being strangled,” says DeCoutere. “Also, instead of people coming up to me to talk about TPB .. they’d come up and share childhood secrets, and traumatizing stories .. so it was all very intense, and very impactful. It has changed me fundamentally as a person.”

You can hear more from DeCoutere at the event Wine, Women and Song at THEMUSEUM in downtown Kitchener on June 16th.

Tickets are already up for grabs, and all the proceeds raised go towards the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region and the SHORE centre.

DeCoutere says despite some of the subject matter, she believes there will be good times to be had.

“In the sense that I’ve done a number of events like this – and I find the folks who attend are open to chat, and this fosters a really nice camaraderie and community – and that’s why I go. If I found that it was ‘re-triggering’ .. I wouldn’t do it. It’s more to offer perspectives, and if anyone in the audience has had similar experiences, they see something in which they can commiserate and it can be sort of an affirmation of sorts,” explains DeCoutere.

You can hear the full interview with Lucy DeCoutere and 570 NEWS below.