Kerry Washington has unveiled a surprising revelation concerning her parents in her new memoir, “Thicker Than Water.” In the book, the Scandal actress candidly discusses her parents’ decision to withhold crucial information due to their struggles with fertility.
The 46-year-old star recently learned that her biological father is not Earl Washington, the man she had always believed to be her father. In an interview with PEOPLE for an upcoming issue, Washington expressed how this discovery had a profound impact on her life, stating, “It really turned my world upside down.”
Washington goes on to explain that she stumbled upon this family secret shortly after sharing her plans to participate in Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s PBS series, “Finding Your Roots.” This show involves celebrities delving into their ancestral heritage through DNA testing.
After holding onto this secret for decades, Washington’s parents, Valerie, a professor, and Earl, a real estate agent, had a private conversation with Gates. He advised them that it was best for families to address such revelations privately before embarking on any public discussion or filming.
Washington revealed that the turning point in her journey came in the form of a text message from her parents, inviting her to a family gathering in the spring of 2018.
“When I received that message, it was like a lightbulb moment for me,” says the celebrated star. She vividly remembers the immense relief she felt upon learning this news, having always sensed that her parents were withholding something important from her, leaving her with a pervasive feeling of incompleteness.
“I didn’t know the specifics of my own narrative; it felt as if I was merely a supporting character in their story,” she candidly shares.
Washington managed to maintain her composure as she posed numerous inquiries, extending her parents the grace to share what was evidently a challenging revelation. It was during this conversation that she discovered they had chosen to employ an anonymous sperm donor due to fertility struggles, a secret they had decided never to disclose to her.
“I believe that internal discord, the feeling that ‘someone is concealing something about my own identity,’ fueled my years-long battle with anxiety, self-esteem issues, and an eating disorder during my youth,” she reflects.
In retrospect, Washington acknowledges that these struggles may have been subconscious responses to her parents’ hidden truth.
This newfound knowledge compelled her to share her authentic story with the world. She explains, “This is me actively working to comprehend the entirety of my life in light of this newfound revelation, which, in many ways, felt like the missing piece of the puzzle.”
She acknowledges her parents’ initial resistance to her decision to write about this deeply personal experience, although they eventually became supportive throughout the process.
She adds, “This book is an exploration of me, and I now have the opportunity to place myself at the forefront of my own life.”
Ultimately, this experience deepened Washington’s connection with her parents.
“I began to harbor an abundance of love, compassion, and understanding for my parents,” she says. “Delving into our family history allowed me to step into their shoes, consider the challenges they’ve faced, the sacrifices they’ve made, and it genuinely brought me closer to them.”
Kerry Washington’s memoir is set to debut on Tuesday, September 26th.
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