Rachel Uchitel, one of the many women with whom Tiger Woods had an affair while he was married to his ex-wife Elin Nordegren, said her life has been “hell” for years since the scandal broke.
She explained to “Extra” why she finally broke the silence 10 years later.
“I have been silent for over a decade and I felt it was very important for me to speak only once in my life, because I have spent all these years letting people think what they want to think and say what they want to say,” said Uchitel. “I needed to remove the handcuffs and be able to tell my story to myself. I spent years ashamed of what is happening. “
The 45-year-old said she felt “ashamed” about having an affair with a married man, but “this is my problem” and does not think it is fair to be defamed by the media and the public.
“A moment does not define your life … And I don’t like being labeled a lover,” said Uchitel. “I don’t like being labeled a housebreaker – I’m not like that. I am a 45 year old woman. I made a wrong turn 10 years ago … I didn’t throw anyone down the stairs. I didn’t kill anyone. I made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. “
In fact, the scandal followed, despite the passing of time. “The whole thing has made my life a living hell for the past 10 years,” said the former nightclub hostess.
Uchitel also talked about why she participated in the HBO documentary “Tiger” about the tumultuous life of the golf star.
“I wanted people to see what really happened. I was not a lover, I was in a real relationship and I want people to leave me alone about it. I made a bad decision. And I regret it, I’m ashamed of it and … my apologies are for two people, not for the world, two people, ”she said.
The documentary is supposed to show Uchitel recalling his first stare at Woods, also 45, at a nightclub in New York. That’s where Woods reportedly asked for his number and texted it minutes later.
Woods’ divorce from Nordegren became official on August 23, 2010. The ex-couple shares two children: daughter Sam Alexis, 13, and son Charlie Axel, 11.
The athlete then entered a sexual rehabilitation treatment facility.
Woods’ ex-wife later moved in with Jordan Cameron. Nordegren, 41, and Cameron welcomed a child, a boy named Arthur, in 2019.
The first part of “Tiger” debuted on HBO on January 10, with its second part airing on January 17.