Watch: Shocking Lady Gaga music video depicts rape of trans man
CONTENT WARNING: This article includes images depicting sexual assault.
Lady Gaga has released a video to raise money for sexual assault charities, depicting the rape of three women and a transgender man.
The video for song ‘Til It Happens to You’, available below, was released today ahead of sexual assault documentary The Hunting Grounds.
The black-and-white clip – which raises money for charities that help victims of sexual assault – portrays four individuals who are the victims of sexual violence, including a woman who is forced against a wall and sexually assaulted, and a pair who have their drinks spiked.
It also appears to feature a transgender man – who is shown binding his breasts and getting dressed, before being attacked by another man in the bathroom.
The presence of a gay sexual assault and a trans man are both powerful messages, given that trans people are disproportionately likely to experience sexual assaults, and traditional campaigns on the issue often focus on heterosexuals.
All of the attacks are shown in shocking detail.
The video contains the disclaimer: “The following contains graphic content that may be emotionally unsettling but reflects the reality of what is happening daily on college campuses.”
It adds: “One in five college women will be sexually assaulted this year unless something changes.”
Lady Gaga added of the video: “Diane Warren and I made ‘Til It Happens To You’ for people all over the world who suffer from painful life experiences.
“We hope you feel our love and solidarity through the song, and perhaps find some peace in knowing you are not alone through this film.
“A portion of proceeds from sales of the song will be donated to orgs helping survivors.”
