Big Brother Star Testifies in NOLA Abuse Scandal

A former contestant on Big Brother, Renny Martyn, has come forward as a victim in New Orleans' long-standing Catholic clergy abuse scandal. Martyn, 71, shared her harrowing experience during a Tuesday hearing concerning the Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans' bankruptcy proceedings, initiated in 2020 due to the scandal's financial repercussions. She recounted being sexually assaulted at age six by a priest at St. Mary Magdalen elementary school in Metairie.

Martyn's testimony was part of a trial focused on a proposed $230 million settlement for hundreds of survivors. She described the lifelong emotional and psychological scars left by the abuse, perpetrated by the late clergyman Hubert Broussard. Her account underscores the issue of credibly accused abusers not being recognized by the church, as Broussard was not initially on the archdiocese's list of credibly accused clergy.

Beyond her court testimony, Martyn is known for her 2008 appearance on Big Brother, where she was the oldest female competitor and achieved a top-five finish. She also previously owned a hair salon and was a member of the Saintsations dance team in the late 1970s. Martyn stated that she decided to speak out after realizing the widespread nature of clergy abuse in her community, emphasizing her determination not to let the trauma define her.