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Lady Gaga's Response to Piers Morgan's Tweets About Her Rape and PTSD Sets a Brave Example

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Earlier this month, Lady Gaga agreed to meet with talk show host Piers Morgan after he questioned her admission to being raped and struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

• What is PTSD?

In a string of tweets, Morgan questioned the validity of celebrities who claim to have faced sexual assault and PTSD as a result, citing both Lady Gaga and Madonna. He also said PTSD is an illness which affects primarily military veterans and that legal evidence should be sought to back a rape accusation.

Gaga, in all her infinite wisdom, responded not with anger but with the desire to educate. She offered to talk to Morgan about the “mental health youth epidemic,” and agreed to an interview.

 

 

While it would have been easy to shut down after an attempt to invalidate her experiences, Gaga stood firm and went high. By agreeing to an interview where she could be triggered and attacked, she’s sending a message to all survivors. She’s saying, “I’m with you, and I won’t let anyone belittle you.”

It’s just another reminder that we’re not alone, we matter and it’s our job to educate those who don’t understand, not just for our own peace of mind but for others’, too.

If you or a loved one is affected by sexual abuse or assault and need help, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

Left image by Pete Riches, right image via Lady Gaga

Originally published: December 27, 2016
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