Saira Khan has been praised by Loose Women fans after she broke down in tears during the live episode while revealing she was sexually abused as a teenager.
The TV star struggled to speak as she confessed to being inappropriately touched by a member of her family while her co-hosts rallied around her in shock.
Saira admitted she had “never talked about this before” as she praised Mukhtar Mai, a Pakistani woman who was gang-raped in her village and forced to walk through the streets naked, someone she believes should have been given the Glamour magazine Woman of the Year Award.
She said: “I would never have talked about it but I just felt I had to because of what’s going on with this woman.
“She says, ‘I just want to be a voice of these women who face circumstances similar to what I did’.”
How brave is our @IamSairaKhan for speaking out about the abuse she suffered in her childhood. 💔 #LooseWomen pic.twitter.com/18f4qkmpq6
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) November 3, 2016
Thank you all for your messages of support for @IamSairaKhan - we are incredibly proud of her. ❤️ #LooseWomen
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) November 3, 2016
She added: “If any young child or woman is going through something, that somebody is touching them, without their permission, inappropriately, please, it is wrong.”
Following her revelation, Loose Women viewers quickly took to Twitter to express their gratitude for Saira opening up about such a difficult, personal issue.
One fan admitted she was still “pulling myself together” after the admission while another said they had “huge respect” for her courage.
#sairakhan #loosewomen Pulling myself together after Saira's brave revelation. It happens too much. Please talk about #abuse & report it.
— Joanne Derrick (@joannecderrick) November 3, 2016
What a very strong, brave woman you are Saira Khan! My heart goes out to you. xxx. @loosewomen #loosewomen
— Scottish Linda Indy2 (@linannlum) November 3, 2016
@iamsairakhan @loosewomen well done saira Khan - very brave woman - girls/women going through abuse need women like you. Well done & big hug
— maria gilroy (@MariaGilroy) November 3, 2016
Huge respect to Saira Khan for her courage on @loosewomen today #LooseWomen no child anywhere in the world deserves to be abused.
— Through The Looking (@2thlookingglass) November 3, 2016
Huge respect to @IamSairaKhan for speaking out about her upsetting past 👌🏼👍🏻 #SairaKhan #LooseWomen
— Reena Combo-Kainth (@ReenaCombo) November 3, 2016
#loosewomen in tears listening to Saira Khan.... heartbreaking! Well done for speaking out 😢💔
— Debby Catterick (@DebCatSunshine) November 3, 2016
How brave of saira Khan to speak so openly about her horrible ordeal, I hope anyone who is going though the same seeks help #LooseWomen
— Mitchell WEBB (@MitchellWebb85) November 3, 2016
Saira Khan is so strong to talk about sexual abuse on Loose Women. So much love for her.
— Ms. Taylor (@taylorlindup) November 3, 2016
OMG @IamSairaKhan well done you. It took a lot of strength to do that unexpectedly! @loosewomen #LooseWomen #SairaKhan
— Keith Farren (@Keithcamer0n) November 3, 2016
One user even used the hashtag #femalesarestrongashell to highlight the daytime TV show’s handling of the topic.
Damn guys #LooseWomen hit it hard today, I love that women share and hug. Saira Khan stay brave. #femalesarestrongashell
— Athena (@athenaaa_xo) November 3, 2016
The show later tweeted: “How brave is our @IamSairaKhan for speaking out about the abuse she suffered in her childhood.
“Thank you all for your messages of support for @IamSairaKhan – we are incredibly proud of her.”
