Tisha Campbell: Overcomer, Overjoyed, and ‘Still Here’ Thriving!

(Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

Tisha Campbell, now 55, is known for her fun-loving attitude that can be seen on past episodes of “Martin” or “My Wife & Kids” and on “The Real Husbands Of Hollywood.”

Recently, at the 75 Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024, Campbell reflected on the legacy she was able to build for the past 30 years.

“Yes, this is my first time here and it is very important,” Campbell, who played Martin’s leading lady, Gina Waters-Payne, told ET’s Kevin Frazier. “You know, during the ’90s it’s funny Kevin, we weren’t nominated ever and UI had a publicist back then and I said, ‘Can I well, you know, can I be nominated? You think we can get a nomination for lead actress?’ And she was like, ‘Tisha, you’re not going to be nominated, you can’t get on the ballot.’ And I said, ‘Why not?’ And she says, ‘You know why, you’re Black.’ And so I was like, ‘Can I get best supporting actress, we can sneak in that way.’ And she was like, ‘You’ll never get on the ballot,’ and so to see the diversity today. To see my sisters from Abbott Elementary and Scandal and all these people who are representing. Representation really does matter.”

“We lay the groundwork and I’m very proud of it,” Campbell continued. “We worked it out in our minds to not want the accolades, and that’s OK, ’cause now people are being seen and I’m very, very proud of that.”

But the divorced mother of two isn’t just a legacy builder–she’s an overcomer. In fact, just a few years ago, Campbell explained that she had been harboring a pain that she finally decided to let go of.

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In September 2015, Campbell shared first that she been had raped at the tender age of three and that her attacker had written her a letter of apology. Her new song, “Steel Here,” expresses both the feelings of trauma and the strength she felt when dealing with the aftermath of the terrible incident.

In a portion of the video are clips of Tisha with lines from her rapists’ apology letter painted across her chest. The lyrics themselves impart a message of strength and survival. “… I’m still resilient I’m always gonna be here because I’m supposed to be here. I’m owning my existence. It’s a system of survival because I’m my only rival. Yes, I’m on a mission (put your seat belt on). I know I’m on assignment The stars are in alignment. I’m ready for this!” Watch the video below:

But Tisha is not alone. Rape statistics among youth are staggering:

• 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse
• 20% of adult females and 5-10% of adult males recall a childhood sexual assault or sexual abuse incident
• A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and are 50% more likely to become suicidal

(Tisha Campbell-Martin 2016; Photo Credit: Instagram)

In an Instagram post, Campbell explains how the concept of the video started. She said that when she was coming up with the concept with director Viktorija Pashuta, they decided to use her sexual assault as the starting point:

“Viktorija asked me to come up with one event that may have seemed trying while I was experiencing it but I turned into a positive. I shared with her how fortunate I was to recently receive a five-page apology letter from the person who raped me when I was three years old. When the letter arrived, it blessed me. It allowed me to FORGIVE and I’m so incredibly grateful. So with that, Viktorija begins the story with a man writing the letter, then you see him…

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… writing the words on my body…Words taken from the actual letter. She illustrated the theme of #forgiveness in the mirrored room where I have to really look at myself and fight my own demons.”

Tisha took to her Twitter to shed more light on what had happened to her as a child. “@theartofpsycho the writing on my body and the man writing the letter reps the actual words of an apology letter I recently received…… From the person who violated me when I was 3 yrs old. By blessing me w/ the apology letter he allotted me the ability…to be free and to forgive #blessed #thankful”

Fans are continuing to support Campbell as she navigated through what seemed to be a messy divorce. She was even granted a restraining order from her estranged ex-husband, Duane Martin. Numerous reports have been circling around as to why the restraining order was needed, but nothing has been confirmed.

She also confirmed that there’s more to come. “The album is done. B Slade produced it and LaShawn Daniels is really helping to push it,” she said.

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