Lady Gaga released a public-service music video on Friday morning (BST) about university campus sexual assault, to accompany a song for campus rape documentary The Hunting Ground.
The song, Til It Happens to You, was co-written by Lady Gaga and prolific Canadian songwriter Diane Warren and is dedicated to survivors of sexual assault around the world.
“We hope u feel our love & solidarity through the song & perhaps find some peace in knowing u r not alone through this film,” Lady Gaga tweeted. The singer also said that a portion of proceeds from the song will be donated to organisations working with survivors of rape and sexual assault.
The video for Til It Happens to You features plainly shot scenes of sexual assaults on a university campus, as well as scenes depicting three female university students as they come to terms with surviving sexual assault. Catherine Hardwicke, behind the first Twilight film and Thirteen in 2003, directed the video.
At the end of the video, text states: “One in five college women will be sexually assaulted this year unless something changes.” This often-cited statistic has also been used to bolster the recent movement against sexual violence on US university campuses. The video provides links to the website for the campaign It’s On Us, to raise awareness about sexual consent and provide support for survivors of sexual assault in the US.
Earlier this year, Gaga – who has previously spoken publicly about being sexually assaulted at the age of 19 – joined a campaign to tackle sexual assault on university campuses in New York. Along with New York state governer Andrew Cuomo, she signed an open letter pushing for new legislation to strengthen the fight against what some perceive as an endemic “rape culture” at university.
The “Enough is Enough” legislation was signed into effect in July. Hunting Ground, directed by Emmy award-winner Kirby Dick, premiered in January.
- Survivors of sexual assault seeking help in the US can call the National Sexual Assault hotline, on 1-800-656-4673. Those in the UK can visit the Survivors Trust website to find the relevant support centres and helplines.
