To paraphrase Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” Elvis Presley was a hero to most, but his alleged treatment of women (and underage girls) was disturbing. With the rise of the #MeToo Movement, there has been a re-examination of Presley’s relationships, particularly those of the barely legal kind. Subsequently, Vice argued that Presley’s behavior was predatory, “exploiting the admiration of underage girls.”
Supposedly unable to make love to his wife following their daughter’s birth, Presley allegedly chased numerous teen girls and virginal women. According to “Elvis Presley: A Southern Life” (via theDaily Mail), he reportedly had a bevy of 14-year-old girls with whom he was cavorting, and 19-year-old Elisabeth Stefaniak, who worked as the musician’s personal secretary, hopped into the conjugal bed when he ceased intimacy with his wife. Per an interview withElvis Information Net, she eventually left Presley for the man who would become her husband of almost 60 years.
Presley, who was supposedly “obsessed with virginity,” pursued two 25-year-old virgins, one of whom was Joyce Bova, circa 1970. Bova later penned a book about the affair, “Don’t Ask Forever: My Love Affair with Elvis.” Speaking with Elvis Information Net, she acknowledged Presley’s alleged fiery temper, which led to her walking out on him. “It was a spontaneous reaction that said I wanted to be treated like a lady and with respect. … In retrospect I don’t know how well I coped, and now I understand more,” she reflected. “I’m older and you know what they say about 20-20 hindsight.”
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.