“It didn’t traumatize me.” Lenny Kravitz said he doesn't consider "unwanted sexual contact" violence in youth

“It didn’t traumatize me.” Lenny Kravitz said he doesn't consider "unwanted sexual contact" violence in youth

Lenny Kravitz, in an interview with Esquire, spoke about unwanted sexual contact with a stranger as a teenager, explained why he could not call it sexual violence and how it affected his relationships with women later.

Ленни Кравиц
Ленни Кравиц/Esquire

The musician already described this incident in his memoirs “Let Love Rule,” which was published in 2020, but did not go into details. The incident occurred in the 1970s or 1980s, when Kravitz was a teenager. His parents left him in the care of a young uncle - old enough, he said, to look after his nephew.

My uncle threw a party and several of his friends came to see him. And one of the women went into the room where Lenny was sleeping and allowed herself several touches of a sexual nature.

Ленни Кравиц
Ленни Кравиц/Esquire
Ленни Кравиц
Ленни Кравиц/Esquire

This incident forced the musician to treat women differently in the future. “I was not interested in somehow forcing women to have sex,” he said. “I was forced myself, and I didn’t like it.” In his memoirs, he also noted that "a lot of girls like bad boys," and if he had to act in a way to win someone over, he wouldn't be too upset.

He also spoke about his reaction to the incident. “It was an experience and a lesson,” he said. “I’m not saying that this moment did not deserve attention - perhaps someone will say that this should have been dealt with.”

According to him, he does not consider it sexual violence, and he does not consider himself a victim, since he did not have any traumatic experience.

"I wasn't injured. This is life, it was a life experience.”

Kravitz recently revealed the secret of his great shape. As it turned out, Re adheres to the "Mick Jagger diet" of sex, champagne and a good cigar.

More in the section Celebrity

Kendall Jenner on the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival
Celebrity

Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi's cozy autumn coffee date in NYC - with a kiss

The couple matched in sunglasses and bundled up for a low-key coffee run in New York City on Nov. 8, with orange leaves and a quick kiss on the shoulder.

Blake Lively smiling on a red carpet
Celebrity

Blake Lively wore Ryan Reynolds' $990 Thom Browne shirt - & shared her style rule

Blake Lively raided Ryan Reynolds' closet for his $990 Thom Browne shirt and told fans to 'find a husband you can share clothes with.'

A collection of Taylor Swift memorabilia and album items
Celebrity

Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss reunite in Chiefs VIP suite after years-long feud

The pop star and the model sat together at Arrowhead Stadium, ending a rumored years-long rift that fans thought was permanent.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, with Prince George
Celebrity

Prince William's blunt reason for splitting with Kate: 'I wanted to be sure'

Royal photographer Arthur Edwards says William told him he split with Kate before the engagement because he wanted to be sure the marriage would last.

Billie Eilish on stage at Pukkelpop Festival in 2019
Celebrity

Billie Eilish's Halloween was a blue bob and head-to-toe latex as Noodle

The singer channeled Gorillaz guitarist Noodle for Halloween, complete with a bright blue bob and a white latex minidress.

Nicolas Cage speaking at Los Angeles Comic Con in 2026
Celebrity

Nicolas Cage and wife Riko Shibata hit the red carpet after sinkhole left them 'homeless'

The actor and his wife smiled at the Madden premiere in L.A., days after revealing their Malibu mansion nearly fell into a giant sinkhole.

Kim Kardashian speaking in a public service announcement video
Celebrity

Kim Kardashian's metal-disc GMA gown is 1989 Paco Rabanne couture

Kim Kardashian hit Good Morning America in a vintage 1989 Paco Rabanne haute couture gown made entirely of metal discs.

Taylor Swift in a 2007 press photo
Celebrity

Taylor Swift hugged babies and schmoozed journos at her Toy Story 5 Oscar push

Taylor Swift worked a packed "Toy Story 5" screening in New York, hugging kids and schmoozing journalists as she chases her first Oscar nod.

Sarah Paulson at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival
Celebrity

Kim Kardashian thought Sarah Paulson's All's Fair voice was real

Sarah Paulson hilariously busted her costar, who believed the husky twang she uses for Carrington Lane was her actual voice.

Martha Stewart smiling at an event
Celebrity

Martha Stewart sorry over homeless Halloween costume: 'Never my intention'

Martha Stewart has apologized after a since-deleted Halloween photo showed her dressed as a homeless person, holding a sign reading "I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!"


Kendall Jenner on the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival
Celebrity

Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi's cozy autumn coffee date in NYC - with a kiss

A Taco Bell restaurant in Sydney, Australia
Food

Taco Bell's Fire Piña Hot Dog uses a chalupa as the bun at Live Más Open

Florence Pugh posing at an event in 2026
Entertainment

Florence Pugh is done with 'bullshit' on set: 'Show up on time, don't be a misogynist'

Frost-covered trees and snow in Banff National Park in winter
Travel

Banff in winter is more than skiing: snowshoeing, sauna rituals and sleigh rides

Rihanna smiling at an event in 2019
Lifestyle

Rihanna's half-tucked shirt collar is the runway trick anyone can steal

Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari race overalls during 2025 Italian Grand Prix qualifying
Sport

Lewis Hamilton is catching Mercedes' flight home - Toto Wolff has a drink planned

Blake Lively smiling on a red carpet
Celebrity

Blake Lively wore Ryan Reynolds' $990 Thom Browne shirt - & shared her style rule

A Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant building with drive-thru
Food

Chick-fil-A's Chicken & Waffles ends Nov. 14 - but 3 cities get a bigger test menu

Harry Styles singing on stage during his Together, Together tour in Amsterdam
Entertainment

Harry Styles jogs MSG stairs and suits up as Pizza Rat in final Harryween clip

A river cruise ship sailing on the Nile near Luxor, Egypt
Travel

Viking's new Nile river ships reach temples other cruises skip - here's the 11-night tour

Kylie Jenner looking at the camera
Lifestyle

Kylie Jenner made her LACMA debut in a shimmering deer-spot gown - it's fawn girl fall

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell
Sport

Tank Dell scores first TD in 687 days as Texans receiver completes comeback from torn knee

A collection of Taylor Swift memorabilia and album items
Celebrity

Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss reunite in Chiefs VIP suite after years-long feud

A can of jellied cranberry sauce with sliced cranberry sauce discs on a plate
Food

Ocean Spray turned canned cranberry sauce into chocolate candy - $24.95 a box

Olivia Rodrigo performing on stage at Lollapalooza Argentina 2025
Entertainment

Olivia Rodrigo is back at No. 1 as Thriller jumps to its highest spot in 40 years

Red rock canyon vista at Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah
Travel

Utah's national parks after dark: scorpion hunts, moonlit kayaks and star hikes

Hands with matte black nail polish dotted with small white polka dots
Lifestyle

Hailey Bieber swaps glazed nails for glossy black - and it's fall's biggest manicure

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami in action during an MLS match
Sport

Messi sets up two as Inter Miami blow 3-0 lead but seal second in MLS

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, with Prince George
Celebrity

Prince William's blunt reason for splitting with Kate: 'I wanted to be sure'

A bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal squares
Food

Dunkin' teams with General Mills on 3 coffee-flavored cereals for December