“Scandal” star Kerry Washington appears in a new public service announcement discussing an under-discussed, though frequent form of domestic violence: Financial abuse.
“Finances are almost always a weapon of choice,” Washington says in the PSA for the Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse initiative, “taking away access to cast, jeopardizing jobs. Financial abuse leaves invisible bruises that can take decades to heal.”
The Allstate Foundation’s goal is to raise awareness about domestic violence and the critical role that financial abuse plays in domestic violence situations.
See video: Meredith Vieira Reveals Why She Stayed in Abusive Relationship
As a national ambassador for Purple Purse, Washington designed a limited-edition purple purse that will be distributed among community leaders, Allstate agency owners, Purple Purse community partners that work directly with survivors, celebrities and media to raise awareness for the cause.
“A purse is where a woman’s power lives. I am really proud of this bag, and having the opportunity to design a fashion statement that carries such an important message,” Washington said in a statement. “Financial control is almost always a weapon of choice for abusers because when a victim’s access to cash is taken away or her credit is destroyed or even her employment is jeopardized, it becomes nearly impossible for her to leave.”
See video: ‘Scandal’ Teaser Asks Where on Earth Is Olivia Pope?
Washington has a long history of championing social change, and it wasn’t always clear to her that acting would be her vocation. Her mother, a college professor, and her father, a real estate broker, instilled in her a very strong sense of social responsibility.
She has said that they celebrated her 18th birthday like others would celebrate a Sweet 16, because she was finally able to vote.
For more details on the Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse initiative, visit purplepurse.com.
Watch Washington’s PSA above.
