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Warning: this article may be upsetting for anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, assault or harassment.

In case you've missed the drama surrounding R Kelly following the release of a six-hour length Lifetime documentary regarding his sexual predation, the explosive TV episodes have one again brought the dangerous rapper to light.

Horrifying allegations have been made against singer R Kelly for three decades, including an upsetting trial involving 21 counts of child pornography.

The six-part documentary made by Dream Hampton, Surviving R Kelly, retraced reports of the R&B artist's consistent manipulation and abuse of underage girls and sexual misconduct going back 30 years, for which he has never faced any consequences.

Lady Gaga is now being sufficiently ROASTED for declining to appear in the documentary, despite having collaborated with him back in 2013 on the (ironic) track Do What U Want.

Twitter users are calling her out on her debated hypocrisy, as she plays a large role in the #MeToo movement and declared that she has had her own abuser, though won't name him, yet works with known paedophiles.

Her silence in 2019 on the issue has allowed the public to instead retrace a damaging 2013 interview, where the Shallow singer DEFENDS him while in Japan; 

"R Kelly and I have sometimes, very untrue things written about us, so in a way this was a bond between us." Whoa, whoa, whoa. This doesn't look good for Gaga, we have to admit.

She is choosing to remain silent for the moment, though more than a dozen victims who claim to have been raped, enslaved and abused while underage by Kelly have spoken out in the documentary.

Gaga was one of many celebrities who declined to participate in the Surviving R Kelly series, as well as Jay-Z (another collaborator), Dave Chapelle and Mary J Blige.

The move has angered many Gaga fans, given her public history of supporting sexual assault victims.

The rage online is palpable, as numerous fans have pointed out that this exact silence is how Kelly has been left to his own enabled devices for years.

In reality, he has had a support system around him who helped him with his predation.

Despite his child pornography trial taking place in 2002, hundreds of high profile celebrities have collaborated with him since, and are potentially only appearing regretful now because it is damaging to their brand.

A conversation has also arisen surrounding the notion of sexual assault victims and race, with many pointing out that if these women had been black, their stories may have ended differently.

Chance the Rapper has apologised for collaborating with the singer, but upset many people by admitting that he didn't care about the women because they were, in fact, black.

"Making a song with R. Kelly was a mistake. I didn't value the accusers' stories because they were black."

His honesty may be important in continuing this important talk, but the words have understandably hurt millions of women of the black community, who face oppression daily in America.

He later apologised for the quotes, saying they were taken out of context and explaining that the focus should be on the fact that those young black victims were never cared for.

Jada Pinkett Smith is among the celebrities who are asking the same imperative question; Do young black women matter?

Dream Hampton, executive producer of the show, told the Detroit Free Press that;

“It was incredibly difficult to get people who had collaborated with Kelly to come forward." Heartbreakingly, even friends such as Questlove declined to appear, despite believing the accusers' words.

John Legend was the only high-profile person who appeared in the film, writing on Twitter that it was an "easy decision":

#MeToo founder Tarana Burke also appeared in the documentary, as well as talk show host Wendy Williams and R. Kelly's ex-wife Andrea Kelly.

R&B legend Ne-Yo has posted his support for the series, saying that music cannot matter more than the lives of young black women.

Separating the man from the art must be examined as problematic; ignoring the actions of one can harm so many others.

R. Kelly has continuously denied the allegations and was acquitted in 2002 of child pornography charges, yet the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming.

The documentary is massively upsetting to watch, with woman after woman telling stories with paralleling patterns of his behaviour.

Families of young women are still claiming that their daughters are being held captive by R. Kelly as 'sex slaves.'

Chicago reporter Jim DeRogatis made a report in July of 2017 in which he asserts that Kelly keeps his victims captive in Chicago and Atlanta, and two victims (Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary) remain in his captivity.

"When u say teenage, how old are we talking" #RKelly #muterkelly #survivingrkelly pic.twitter.com/888SaTEBXx

Human rights organisation BlackWomensBlueprint tweeted,

"The sad truth is survivors still face push-back from naysayers who question their stories or dismiss the crisis of sexual assault- especially against black women and girls. It's a terrible burden to have to endure."

Jerhonda Pace, a survivor of R.Kelly, said, “I felt like a prisoner. I didn’t have anyone to talk to. It was just me. I went into a depression. I was mentally drained, because he would break me down, then build me up, then make me feel like sh*t again, then do it all over again."

"He would really manipulate my mind. The breaking point for me was when Rob slapped me, and he choked me until I blacked out," she concluded.

Let's not forget that when the singer was 27-years-old, he forged then 15-year-old R&B sensation Aaliyah's documents to claim she was 18 in order to marry her. 

The Princess of Urban Pop later died in a plane crash in the Bahamas in 2001 after the unlicensed pilot had cocaine and alcohol in his system.

The documentary's film-maker Dream Hampton claims she hopes "Surviving R. Kelly" serves as a starter tool to "shift culture" and "talk about rape culture and organise against patriarchy, which harms us all."

Non-for-profit advocacy organisation Color of Change tweeted the "strength of black women & girls is determined by how much suffering we can endure. The women in #SurvivingRKelly are our heroes."

Let's hope the conversation will finally spark action and justice for these women.

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Tasmanian comedienne Hannah Gadsby has called out "good men" during her acceptance speech at the The Hollywood Reporter’s 2018 Women in Entertainment Gala.

She voiced her opposition to the way in which certain men discuss their 'bad' male counterparts, and essentially still have the power over women.

"All men believe they are good", she stated, explaining the unbalanced narrative surrounding misogynistic behaviour.

She elaborated on the issue of good men speaking on behalf of all women, therefore having the power to draw boundaries;

“I want to speak about the very big problem I have with the good men, especially the good men who take it upon themselves to talk about the bad men,” she said.

“I find good men talking about bad men incredibly irritating, and this is something the good men are doing a lot of at the moment.”

A line which especially caught the media's attention was regarding the "Jimmy's and the David's and the other Jimmy's" of the world.

Her references to infamous talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, are in relation to their previous comments surrounding the #MeToo era.

Gadsby believes the duo can only regard bad men in two ways: either as extreme perpetrators of sexual violence such as Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, or as friends who have taken a misstep but are well-meaning, such as Aziz Ansari.

“We need to talk about how men will draw a different line for a different occasion,” she said.

“They have a line for the locker room; a line for when their wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters are watching; another line for when they’re drunk and fratting; another line for nondisclosure; a line for friends; and a line for foes.

“You know why we need to talk about this line between good men and bad men? Because it’s only good men who get to draw that line.

“And guess what? All men believe they are good.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The comedienne's candour has been applauded by numerous people, who appreciate her honesty in the face of such a difficult audience.

Her Netflix stand-up show Nanette was released earlier in the year to widespread critical acclaim, and faced tough issues such as rape, sexual assault and homophobia.

We have SO much respect for this badass lady, what a woman.

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On Thursday, Good Morning Britain raised the interesting question about whether Magic Mike is appropriate or not, given the recent global movement regarding sexual harassment and consent.

The #MeToo discussion has seen high-profile celebrities speak out about their experiences with rape and sexual assault within the entertainment industry, and the movement has spread into every conversation in most workplaces.

Seeing as Magic Mike is about male strippers, it's not surprising that the focus was turned towards it, and Channing Tatum was ready to defend his long-term project.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Speaking at the Magic Mike Live press tour, Tatum said; ‘It’s okay to appreciate the image of a man or a woman as long as it’s done with respect and love."

"It’s such an incendiary moment, we could just be like, “ah! let’s not look at each other, let’s not talk to each other.” ‘We should have these conversations and talk about the hard things."

Essentially, Channing is claiming that it's totally okay to appreciate the male or female form once it remains respectful throughout.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by AMCK DANCE (@amckdance) on

Singer Jessie J, the actor's new girlfriend, has been seen enjoying the Magic Mike Live show from a private box in London. She was spotted at London's Hippodrome as she watched her 38-year-old beau perform,

She is clearly supportive of the cast of strip show meets dance extravaganza, and Tatum is equally supportive of Jessie J's talent. He has been seen watching the Price Tag singer perform in London, sitting near her mum at the Royal Albert Hall.

The pair seem loved-up, and from what we can tell, Channing Tatum is a total gentleman. What do you gals think of Magic Mike, is it problematic or just simple fun?

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A survey carried out by Newstalk has released results stating that half of Irish people would not report rape to the Gardaí if they knew it happened to someone else.

Newstalk’s Women in Ireland Survey shows that while eight out of ten people would report a rape if it was committed against them, when it came to somebody else the reports shifted entirely.

Red C conducted the survey for Newstalk in order to examine sexual violence in the country, and it found that women were significantly less likely to report an incident of rape of someone other than themselves. 

Only four out of ten women said they would report an incident, and six out of ten men, meaning that women are more likely to remain quiet about sexual violence occurring to a friend, acquaintance, family member, or even a stranger.

The survey also found that twice as many women as men have experienced gender discrimination, and three quarters of people would report sexual harassment at work.

The Women in Ireland survey enquired about if participants would report other sexual assault incidences such as groping, indecent exposure, sexual harassment at work or non-consensual touching.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dublin Rape Crisis (@dublinrapecrisis) on

Apparently, three quarters of people would report indecent exposure or sexual harassment while at work, and two thirds of people would give a statement regarding groping to An Garda Síochána.

Regarding discrimination, twice as many women as men said they have experienced prejudicial treatment with younger people.

Interestingly, people who are living in Dublin are evidently more likely to have experienced gender discrimination in their lives.

Overall, the report shows troubling responses from our country, which has had two major rape trial controversies in the last year alone which have shed light on the worrying ways in which our justice system treats sexual assault victims.

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"The last thing I want is a girl crying leaving my house."- Paddy Jackson

The Belfast Rape Trial led to shockingly large media coverage, emotional social media comment and outraged street protest.

The nine-week trial ended in late March 2018, when the jury of nine men and three women unanimously served not guilty verdicts on all charges to all four men involved.

Ex-Ulster and Ireland rugby players Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson were found not guilt of rape and sexual assault at a house party in June 2016, leading to an onslaught of widespread criticism of how trials such as these are conducted.

Defendants Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison were also found not guilty on all charges, with Irish rugby captain Rory Best facing critique for attending the trial itself. The hashtag #notmycaptain trended on Irish Twitter.

Two leading barristers in the case feature in the documentary, Toby Hedworth QC for the Prosecution and Brendan Kelly QC for Paddy Jackson.

Image: Belfast Live

The trial ended on March 28, but has remained in the headlines all-year-round, specifically regarding the #MeToo movement, as well as the recent rape trial in Cork.

Both trials have generated upsetting levels of scandal due to the introduction of female underwear as evidence. The Belfast trial saw the young woman's bloodied thong passed around the courtroom with 100 members of the public.

Las week, #ThisIsNotConsent went viral after the news hit regarding a rape trial in court where her underwear was used as evidence of her apparent consent.

Ruth Coppinger TD produced a thong in the middle of a Dáil debate to make a point about the treatment of witnesses in rape trials.

The Gillen Review Panel in Northern Ireland was published this week, and recommended numerous changes around serious sexual assault trials. 

In the documentary, RTÉ One also spoke to members of the public who attended the Belfast rape trial. 

Fair warning, Documentary On One: Notes From A Belfast Rape Trial is a very difficult listen. Narrated by Emer Horgan and Ronan Kelly, the listener of the documentary is faced with some quite graphic testimony.

That jury decided that they could not say, beyond reasonable doubt, that rape had taken place in Paddy Jackson’s house on that June night in 2016. 

Anyone who feels affected by any issues contained within this documentary, please visit the RTÉ Support page for Helpline information

The first broadcast will be tomorrow, Saturday November 24  2018, on RTÉ Radio 1 at 2pm.

Feature image: JOE.co.uk

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Emotional tributes and forms of creative protest have been occurring worldwide for the 17-year-old woman involved in this week's Cork rape trial, which saw a female barrister use the young woman's underwear as evidence against her.

According to the barrister, the woman's lace thong proved that she was 'open to meeting someone and being with someone', leading to the organisation of mass rallies in support of the victim.

The 27-year-old man accused of raping her in an alleyway was acquitted of rape following barrister's Elizabeth O'Connell's finishing statements.

Among the tributes to the young woman is a hauntingly beautiful rendition of a song, penned by a young woman of similar age to the girl involved:

The video, which was shared on Twitter by her brother John Gaughan, has been steadily gaining in views since it was uploaded.

The lyrics echo the sentiments of outraged women all over the country, who are refusing to accept that underwear can play a part in consent and can also be used as evidence in a court of law.

"What are you wearing underneath? Isn't for you to see unless I want that to be, is that clear?"

"No please, can you stop? That should be enough for you to f*cking wise up, is that clear?"

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Peppermint (@i_am_peppermint) on

"Consent is what we're told, at 17-years-old, is what we wear underneath our clothes. Victims become accused of the crime they didn't do, responsibility is abused."

"We shouldn't have to fear for this to happen to us or someone that we love, is that clear?"

"Something has to change with the mindset of today, it's still not clear."

Anger has spread around Ireland as well as in other countries around the world as a result of the latest controversial rape trial.

ROSA and Ruth Coppinger TD have both requested that strikes occur as a form of protest against the handling of sexual violence cases as well as consent and Irish sex education on International Women's Day.

A review of the handling of sexual assault cases in Northern Ireland been released today, stating that members of the public be excluded from such trials following the high profile Belfast case.

The report, written by retired judge John Gillen and states that access to trials involving serious sexual offences should be confined to close family members of the complainant, the defendant as well the media. 

In the Republic of Ireland system, rape trials are already closed to the public. 

It remains to be seen if any positive consequences will occur as a result of the protests, we hope improvements can be made for the sake of sexual assault and rape victims in Ireland.

Feature image: ABC News

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The Bernard Shaw is a well-known site for political activism: murals dedicated to Savita Halappanavar, the Repeal Movement and the homelessness crisis have appeared in recent times alone.

This week saw a spark of anger which turned into a flame following a controversial Cork rape trial in which a female barrister named Elizabeth O'Connell used a 17-year-old woman's underwear as evidence against her.

As a result, #thisisnotconsent protests took place all over the country, with women and men marching with 'I Believe Her' banners in the air.

The Bernard Shaw's latest activist art piece is dedicated to the young woman whose 27-year-old alleged attacker was acquitted of rape following Elizabeth O'Connell's finishing statement.

The barrister urged the jury of eight men and four women to consider the woman's underwear, which happened to be a lace thong, claiming that the woman "was attracted to the defendant and was open to meeting someone and being with someone".

The Richmond Street South mural shows painted images of various shapes and sizes of underwear, with each branded with the words 'Not Asking For It.' The work was created by Emma Blake, a street artist and graphic designer, also known as Estr.

The mural's appearance is in support of the solidarity rallies which took place this week, urging the government to change the way in which rape trials are conducted.

Women's rights group ROSA wrote that the judicial consideration of the girl's underwear  as evidence was a "disgrace".

ROSA also stated: "These lines of character accusation and victim blaming are unfortunately a common tactic used in cases before the courts relating to sexual violence."

"The judiciary has proven itself time and time again to be utterly damaging to survivors of sexual violence to seek justice."

 Let's hope these crucial protests lead to the necessary changes to Irish law regarding sexual violence.

Feature image: Channel NewsAsia

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In the wake of the Brett Kavanaugh trial, discussions of sexual assault and the ‘frat boy’ stereotype have covered the internet.

The recently appointed Supreme Court justice was accused of sexual assault by multiple women, including professor Christine Blasey Ford.

A lawyer commented on the allegations, telling Politico: “If somebody can be brought down by accusations like this, then you, me, every man certainly should be worried.”

In response, journalist and influencer Maura Quint has started a viral Twitter thread describing her personal experiences with men.

“I want to tell a story”, she began. “Once in high school, I felt insecure, I put on a tight top too low cut and dark lipstick I didn’t usually wear.

“I went to a party, drank terrible wine coolers, too many of them. A man asked me if I wanted to leave, I slurred, said maybe. He said ‘maybe’?

“And then he said ‘maybe isn't yes’ and I went home that night, un-assaulted, because I hadn't talked to a rapist at that party.”

Another story she relayed told of a similar situation.

“One time a guy and I had flirted, he invited me to his room, I went we kissed, I said I liked it, he took off his clothes, I touched him, he tried to take off my clothes, I resisted.

“He said ‘seems like you're not into this’ I said, ehhh, he said, no, it's only fun if you want it. I said, I'm sorry, he said it's ok. I left, unmolested. I was lucky, I hadn't met a rapist that night.”

Maura goes on to tell various stories of her going to parties or coming home with guys, during which she did not give consent for sex. And each time, the men respected her decision.

“I've been assaulted. I've also been not assaulted. The difference didn't seem to be what I was wearing, how flirty I was, how much I was drinking”, she explained.

“The only difference seemed to be whether or not the men felt it was ok or not to assault.”

The journalist’s tweets have gained rapid popularity, sparking her to write a more detailed essay about her experience in Vox.

“Rapists, sexual assaulters, and those who protect them will tell us that they are not unique, that all men act like they do — with violence,” she said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Maura (@mauraquint) on

“They tell us that to try to convince us it’s true, and unfortunately, sometimes, they succeed.

“They are wrong. They are lying. They are trying to normalize something that is not normal, because if they can normalize it, they can’t be held accountable for their terrible acts.

“Choosing to rape isn’t normal. Assault is not an inherent quality of being a man. It is vital that we identify this behavior and never de-stigmatize it, never accept those who want us to believe it’s the status quo.”

Maura’s powerful words have moved many people, who have began sharing their own stories of sexual assault or circumstances where they could have been.

She has an important message to remind the men and women of this generation – we can all choose to make our own decisions, and it is time for people to take ownership of that responsibility.

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Lady Gaga is officially of the market, and we are delighted she's found love with major Hollywood agent fiancé Christian Carino.

It's now time to focus on the MASSIVE ROCK that's been chilling on her finger for the last few months.

The A Star is Born lead and songstress has publicly confirmed her engagement at the Elle 25th Women in Hollywood event, where she gave an emotional speech about her experience as a woman in the industry and survivor of sexual assault.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Elle Magazine (@elleusa) on

Lady Gaga and Christian Carino were first reported to be dating when they were spotted kissing after her 2017 Superbowl performance.

The ring has been sitting on her finger for quite some time, but due to the fact that she has never addressed their relationship until now, the pink accessory was never assumed to be an engagement ring.

We must have been too busy belting out the tunes from A Star is Born…

She even wore it to the 2018 Grammy awards in January, probably assuming we'd all notice.

Image: iheartradio

According to the President of WP Diamonds, Andrew Brown, the pink bling is actually a sublime and rare type of jewel. 

He disclosed to E! that the stunning piece of jewellery a "6-7 carat pink sapphire with a diamond halo totalling 3-4 carats." 

It's also worth a reported whopping $-300'000- $400'000. Yep, pick your jaws up off the floor.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Brilliance Jewels (@brilliancejewels) on

That ring is serving us Pink Panther vibes 24/7, perfect for a woman as glam as Gaga.

Diamonds are forever, which means Lady Gaga should be blessing us with her empowering presence for a long time.

Fair play, Christian Carino. 

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100 Women I Know is movement which began with a questionnaire which asked women to share any experiences of rape and sexual assault.

92 out of the 100 Women asked in a survey said they had been pressured or forced into sexual activity.

The shocking results were hugely emotional, blunt and upsetting.

They also detail the harsh realities which women face every single day, yet sexual violence is so prevalent that women have been effectively silenced on the issue until recent times.

These experiences which were generously and bravely shared led Phoebe Montague, founder of the project, to direct and produce an award-winning short documentary film which focused on four intimate interviews.

Break the Habit Press decided to publish the book, and a movement to strengthen solidarity between survivors of assault was born.

It is imperative that sexual violence is addressed as a social issue, one which needs to be stopped at all costs.

Jazmin, one of the women featured in the documentary, has decided to collaborate with Phoebe in launching their sister organisation People We Know.

The organisation aims to provide an educational programme which attempts to prevent young people from becoming victims or perpetrators of sexual violence.

By planning much needed workshops for schools and communities, these transformative activities are designed to educate and engage young people on the difficult topic.

The participants will hopefully feel encouraged to reconsider their preconceived notions, judgments and misconceptions surrounding consensual sex, healthy relationships and sexual violence.

Young people are the future and it is our responsibility, as a society, to empower them with tools for change.

100 Women I Know on Instagram shared a disturbing statistic on World Suicide prevention day: 1 in 10 victims attempted suicide as a result of sexual violence.

The Instagram page also wrote a statement paralleling the image, detailing how sexual violence and suicide go hand in hand far more often than previously thought.

“63% of victims suffered mental or emotional problems as a result of sexual violence. 53% reported having problems trusting people or having difficulty in other relationships. 1 in 10 victims attempted suicide as a result.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A study by the Office for National Statistics found that 63% of sexual violence victims suffered mental or emotional problems. 53% reported having problems trusting people or having difficulty in other relationships. 1 in 10 victims attempted suicide as a result. – Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention day, yet suicide affects people’s lives every day, globally. – Sexual violence is just one of the many reasons people attempt or die by suicide. Deciding to take ones life is never an easy option, let this day be a reminder to us all to live our lives with compassion. – Male suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. We have a massive issue surrounding lack of communication and emotional connection worldwide. Check in with your loved ones; the “weak” and the “strong”, be kind to strangers; you never know what battles someone is fighting. – Reaching out to ask for help is never easy, if you don’t have anyone to speak to directly, there are services available to help. Don’t feel ashamed by your circumstances or embarrassed at your inability to cope, you are certainly not alone. – Please call 116 112 now for UK Samaritans. @samaritanscharity – – – – #MentalHealth #worldsuicidepreventionday #SuicideAwareness #SexualViolence #Abuse #Survivors #StrongerTogether #ReachingOut #Compassion #Love #PeopleWeKnow #100WomenIKnow #MoreThan100Womem

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One thing is certain: Changes in our society must be made if we ever want women to feel safe, and their voices need to be heard.

The book can be bought online here, with 30% of proceeds going directly towards funding more educational workshops in schools.

Check out their website for more information here.

"Fight the fear if you believe in your art": Phoebe Montague, 100 Women I Know.

Feature image: Source/ https://www.100womeniknow.com/film

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Dr Christine Blasey Ford has been praised for her strength and bravery as she testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Women have been showering her with praise after she accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assaulting her in the 1980s.

Dr Christine Blasey Ford’s story is sadly one experienced by millions of women around the world.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Glamour (@glamourmag) on

Victims have been sharing their stories as a mark of support, including one Hollywood actress.

Busy Philipps took to Instagram to share her personal story. The Dawson’s Creek star posted a throwback photo from her teenage years, but the message beside it was harrowing.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Busy Philipps (@busyphilipps) on

The author revealed she was raped at the age of 14 in the emotional post.

“This is me at 14. The age I was raped. It's taken me 25 years to say those words,” she wrote.

Busy explained she has written about this experience in her book, but only recently told her family: “I finally told my parents and sister about it 4 months ago.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Busy Philipps (@busyphilipps) on

She thanked Dr. Ford for her courage: “Today is the day we are silent no more. All of us. I'm scared to post this. I can't imagine what Dr. Ford is feeling right now.”

Friends and fans were quick to thank Busy for sharing her story. Mindy Kaling wrote: “Busy, you are the best. Thank you for posting this, it shows such bravery. You are a role model.”

“I love you. Deeply grateful for your vulnerability. And your strength,” said Michelle Monaghan.

One user shared: “Thank you for sharing. There are millions of us and we’re all hugging you at the same time right now. Here’s hoping you can feel all that love coming your way.”

Opening up about such a traumatising time takes so much courage. We can’t even imagine just how hard sharing this story was for Busy.

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Opening up about being sexually assaulted takes an overwhelming amount of strength. Thousands of women have come forward and shared their own stories since the wake of the #MeToo movement. Their courage is admirable and their experiences are harrowing, but most notably, they’re real.

Influential actresses and singers have shared their stories of sexual assault, including Lady Gaga.

Regardless of their success and status, these women are just like us. They’ve been through a traumatising ordeal and no amount of fame or money makes it any easier, something we all need to remember.

At the mere age of 19, Gaga was raped by a music producer. The Born This Way singer may have been one of the biggest names to come forward in the #MeToo narrative, but she is also a victim who continues to be affected by that assault every day.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) on

She told Teen Vogue: “I feel stunned. Or stunted. You know that feeling when you’re on a roller coaster and you’re just about to go down the really steep slope?”

“That fear and the drop in your stomach? My diaphragm seizes up. Then I have a hard time breathing, and my whole body goes into a spasm. And I begin to cry. That’s what it feels like for trauma victims every day, and it’s miserable,” the A Star Is Born actress shared.

“I always say that trauma has a brain. And it works its way into everything that you do.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) on

She continued to explain that sharing her story was her own personal choice, but it is different for every victim: “I feel like I’ve been an advocate but also a shocked audience member, watching #MeToo happen.”

Gaga explained that speaking out about being raped was like facing a monster: “It took years. No one else knew. It was almost like I tried to erase it from my brain. And when it finally came out, it was like a big, ugly monster. And you have to face the monster to heal.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) on

It is important for us to remember that the celebrities who come forward and share their personal experiences are human too.

They may be Oscar winners or Grammy nominees, but we need to remember, more than anything, they are victims and the courage it took for them to publicly open up makes them fearless heroes.

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