Elizabeth Smart, who gained national attention in 2002 when she was just 14 years old and kidnapped from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah, has become a child safety advocate turned executive producer.
Lifetime has produced a film, The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story, which tells the real-life story of Kara Robinson, who was abducted as a teen from a friend’s driveway and ended up escaping a serial killer who had killed at least three young girls.
In this exclusive interview on the Tamron Hall show, the two women sit down to discuss why they felt so strongly about sharing this unbelievable story with the world.
Tamron starts out the interview by simply asking Kara how she’s doing, because it may feel very strange to watch your own abduction and sexual assault story play out in a TV movie.
“It’s very surreal. But the reality is that I have shared my story publicly for many years, so this is just continuing to do that in a different way,” Kara shares. She also acted as an executive producer on the project.
More from LittleThings: Elizabeth Smart Speaks Out About Her Abduction And Brutal Abuse She Endured 20 Years Later
Kara notes that she felt that it was important to participate in the retelling of her story because it can feel like a “retraumatizing” and difficult experience when someone else takes the reins on such a sensitive subject.
“Far too often, we hear these stories being told by media or by a documentary … and not only is it not done with the victim’s participation, but often not even with their consent. It’s something that both Elizabeth and I have been very intentional about [in] how we share our stories,” Kara explains.
To hear more from Kara Robinson Chamberlain and Elizabeth Smart about their Lifetime movie, watch the full video from the Tamron Hall show.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at RAINN.
