Missy Elliott reveals childhood sexual abuse

Missy Elliott has revealed that she was a victim of sexual abuse during childhood.

The 'Sock It To Me' star admitted that she was only 8 years old when she began being molested by her 16-year-old cousin when visiting his house after school while her mother worked.

Elliott explained during her episode of VH1's Behind The Music: "Each day he wanted me to come to the house after school.

"It became sexual, which, for me at eight years old, I had no clue what that was, but I knew something was wrong. "Being molested... it don't disappear. You remember it as if it was yesterday."

Elliott recently announced that she has been suffering from Graves' disease since 2008.

The condition is an autoimmune disease where an overactive thyroid causes a metabolic imbalance of thyroid hormones in the body.

However, Elliott later insisted that the illness has not slowed her down or affected her career in a negative way.

Watch an excerpt from Missy Elliott's episode of Behind the Music below (US users only):