Childhood Trauma

Elke Winkens Now Speaks Openly About Abuse

Elke Winkens said last week in a Viennese restaurant: “All these terrible cases bring back those old, horrific experiences for me.”(Bild: Krone-Collage/privat)

The “Gunkl” case brings back traumatic memories—even for Elke Winkens, one of Austria’s best-known actresses. In the “Krone,” she reveals shocking experiences she was forced to endure starting at the age of seven. Read the full story exclusively on KronePLUS.

During a visit to her parents’ snack bar, Elke Winkens was touched by a man. “When my mother came over, I looked at her in fear, and she asked, ‘Did he do anything to you?’, and I said, ‘Yes,’” she says, describing the incident that happened when she was just seven years old. It wasn’t to be her only traumatic experience.

I can picture that child right in front of me. It makes me incredibly sad.

Elke Winkens über den Fall Günther Paal

In an interview with “Krone Bunt” editor-in-chief Euke Frank, Winkens talks about how cases—similar to that of Günther “Gunkl” Paal —time and again reopen societal wounds: “I see that child right in front of me. It makes me incredibly sad.”

Despite her harrowing experiences, Winkens has found her way and is now fighting for others who have been affected. She urges all women who are experiencing or have experienced violence to reach out to a counseling center or to go public together.

She calls on men to take an active and open stand against violence. “Stand up and finally speak out! Stand by our side; show your solidarity.”

Stand up and finally speak out!

Elke Winkens‘ Appell an die Männer

And she also has something to say to “Gunkl” himself. She calls the video shared by Paal on social media “unbearable.” “‘I’ve brought shame upon myself,’ he said there. I say, ‘No, you’ve destroyed a life.’” And she isn’t even talking yet “about the many lives destroyed by images of abuse.” She sees his appearance as “whiny and truly a disgrace. For him. Just pathetic.”

His appearance was whiny and truly a disgrace. For him. Just pathetic.

Zu „Gunkls“ Geständnis auf Social Media

In her profession, the actress has repeatedly experienced inappropriate behavior. For example, a lighting technician once hid a camera on set “that filmed between my legs the entire time we were shooting.” When she noticed it, she destroyed the camera and demanded “that the guy be kicked off the set. He wasn’t, and I had to keep filming.”

Help for Victims

• Women’s Helpline: Tel. [phone] or www.frauenhelpline.at
• Association of Autonomous Austrian Women’s Shelters (AÖF) at www.aoef.at
• Violence Protection Center: www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at
• Austrian Violence Protection Centers:
  Tel. [phone]
• Child Protection Centers:
  www.oe-kinderschutzzentren.at
• City of Vienna 24-Hour Women’s Emergency Hotline: Tel. [phone]
• Women’s Shelter Emergency Hotline: Tel. 057722
• Police emergency number: Tel. 133

She strongly urges all female colleagues who have experienced abuse but do not dare to go public to “use me as your shield.” “You can contact me at any time.”