In the recent issue of Essence magazine rap sensation and actress, Queen Latifah opens up about childhood demons. The star reveals she was sexual abused and has struggled with commitment issues.

Of the traumatic experience, Latifah tells that she was violated by a teenage babysitter, saying, “He violated me. I never told anybody. I just buried it as deeply as I could and kept people at an arms length. I never really let a person get too close to me.”

She also admits that, because of the abuse, she’s since struggled with commitment. “I could have been married years ago, but I had a commitment issue.”

The issue is now available at your local news stand.