Lorena Bobbitt, who famously sliced off her husband's penis with a kitchen knife in 1993, is speaking out about her new life.
Lorena Bobbitt, who famously sliced off her husband's penis with a kitchen knife in 1993, is speaking out about her new life - and how she put her old one behind her.
She told Steve Harvey in an interview that aired on Monday that her ex, John, repeatedly tried to get in touch with her despite the headline-making attack.
"He tried, but I always deleted his number," she said.
Read: Woman Removes Blindfold After Sex, Allegedly Discovers Her Boyfriend is a Female Friend
Bobbitt, now 46, recounted how she moved from Venezuela to Virginia when she was 18 and married John in 1989. He was charming at first, she said, adding that when he started taking drugs, drinking and cheating on her, their relationship began falling apart and he became abusive.
At the time, she said didn't know there were shelters for battered women.
"I didn’t know where to go," Bobbitt said. "And remember, I was isolated. I didn’t have my family. I felt embarrassed to talk about domestic abuse because I didn't want that to happen."
Then in June 1993, she suddenly snapped, she said.
"That's what happens when a man pushes a woman so far," she said. "I found myself in the street with a penis in one hand and the knife in the other... and so yeah, that happens."
In 1994, she was acquitted of malicious wounding by reason of temporary insanity. John Wayne Bobbitt denied he had abused her and was acquitted of marital sexual assault. His penis was reattached and he went on to star in adult movies, including John Wayne Bobbitt Uncut.
Steve Harvey listened in shock to her story.
Bobbitt told him: "I’m glad that after 22 years you still laugh about it, but something good has come of my negative."
Read: Transgender Woman Says She Was Detained by TSA Over Body 'Anomaly'
As well as making the audience laugh - and Harvey cringe - the story has shined a light on domestic violence, she said. Bobbitt now runs Lorena's Red Wagon, an anti-domestic violence organization that helps women and children in shelters.
"I want to bring hope to women and children of domestic abuse, and that’s what we do," she said.
She also remarried and her husband never brings up the incident with John, she said. They have a 10-year-old daughter and live in Virginia.
"I have a new life now," she said. "I surround myself with positive people."
Watch Below: Mom Tapes Teacher Admitting to Sex with Students
