The Tonya Tapes

Guide Note

Former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding's tell-all book, The Tonya Tapes, was released in April of 2008.

In a May 15, 2008 interview on the Today show to promote the book, Harding explained why she never went to police after the 1994 attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan by her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. She claims Gillooly kidnapped and raped her, threatening her life if she revealed his role in the attack.

Harding, who told Today host Meredith Vieira she's "at peace" with her "roller-coaster life," also discussed details from the book about childhood abuse by her mother. Harding's mom, LaVona Harding Golden, denies her daughter's allegations.

Fast Facts

1. Author: Lynda D. Prouse
2. Publisher: World Audience, Inc.
3. Publication date: April 21, 2008

Harding claims she was prepared to go to the FBI to report Gillooly for orchestrating the attack on Kerrigan. She says before she was able to reach authorities, Gillooly and two other men kidnapped her at gunpoint and raped her. Harding alleges Gillooly threatened to kill her if she went to police. Gillooly, Shawn Eckardt and Shane Stant were later convicted and sentenced to prison terms for their roles in the attack.

When asked why she waited 14 years to tell her side of the Kerrigan story, Harding said she was "scared" and "ashamed."

"Jeff and two other guys — don't know who they were because I couldn't see who they were — they were in a different car — decided to drive me up to the mountains, put a gun to my head, and take themselves upon me ... They told me, this is what you are going to say. This is what you are going to do, and if you don't, you're not going to be here anymore."— Excerpt, The Tonya Tapes