There's currently dialogue going on about a VA's public comeback tour.

Listen, owning up is great. But as someone who survived something similar, it sure didn't pay my therapy bills.

Can abusers change? Sure. I've gotten the apology, seen the therapy certificate, and witnessed what looks like a personality overhaul (from my now safe distance).

I'm extra glad I didn't have to see people rushing to pat him on the back for being a bare minimum decent human.

Because for me, seeing that change only meant reconciling that my experience wasn't inevitable; it was an active choice for which there was no purpose outside of terrorizing me.

Victims have to process that. It is very difficult to come to terms with. "Why was i not good enough to be treated well?"

"You were capable all along, so why was i treated this way?"

This is on top of living with PTSD, seeking out treatment, and spending the last year reprocessing with EMDR.

You know what's really hard work? Living with and undergoing treatment for trauma.

I'm extremely skeptical of any person with a track record littered with abuse accusations who resurfaces only to put their victims in the spotlight a year later. Both of Niosi's statements are centered on himself and his abuse and relys on his victims.

His victims must either publicly forgive him to assuage his fans and colleagues so they can support him again or look vindictive since he's done so much work.

One year is not a lot of time for victims to process when it can take years to even admit what happened.

This is a PR move, essentially. His victims do not have the same reach or resources.

If his statement brings them solace, great. I'm just glad I didn't have to decide my forgiveness at the request of my abuser in a public way so maybe people could support him voicing cartoons.