Halsey has opened up about her sexual assaults in an emotional speech attacking Donald Trump
Halsey speaking at the New York City Women’s March in January (halsey/instagram)
Halsey has given a stunning speech about the sexual assaults that she’s suffered.
The bisexual pop star, who has repeatedly spoken out about her sexuality and released multiple bi love songs, also attacked President Donald Trump for his alleged assaults and apathy.
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Speaking to thousands of protesters at the Women’s March in New York City, Halsey described three sexual assaults that she has experienced, as well as how her friend was raped.
The 23-year-old told the crowd that the first assault happened in 2002, when she could not have been more than eight years old.
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“The stairwell beside apartment 1245 will haunt me in my sleep for as long as I am alive,” she read.
“And I’m too young to know why it aches in my thighs, but I must lie, I must lie.”
Halsey detailed two more assaults, in 2012 – when she would have been 17 or 18 – and another just last year.
She said: “A man that I trust gets his hands in my pants / But I don’t want none of that, I just wanted to dance / And I wake up the next morning like I’m in a trance and there’s blood.
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“Is that my blood? Hold on a minute.”
The star told the crowd: “It’s 2018 and I’ve realised nobody is safe long as she is alive”.
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Halsey name-checked women who have come forward as part of the #MeToo movement to speak out about their sexual assault, including Ashley Judd, Simone Biles and Lady Gaga.
She told the protesters that these “heroes” reminded her that “this is the beginning, it is not the finale / And that’s why we’re here / And that’s why we rally.”
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The singer-songwriter then took aim at Trump, saying: “It’s Olympians and a medical resident and not one f***ing word from the man who is President!”
In a powerful finale, Halsey urged the crowd to “love your neighbour, please treat her kindly / Ask her story and then shut up and listen.
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“Black, Asian, poor, wealthy, trans, cis, Muslim, Christian / Listen, listen and then yell at the top of your lungs / Be a voice for all those who have prisoner tongue.”
Writing on Instagram, she explained how the poem, called “A Story Like Mine,” came to be.
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“I was asked to give a speech and I panicked for days. I wasn’t sure where to start,” she said.
“The night before the march I penned this poem at 2 in the morning and the words spilled out of me like white water rushing down a river bend.
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“I didn’t realise how emotional it would be for me to speak my truth but it was. And I’m so happy I did it.”
She continued: “The support I’ve received since is overwhelming and it’s humbling and as a POET (which I always have been, songs or not) it was unbelievable to see people actually get the message.
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“And terrifying and comforting and confusing to see how many had stories to share that reinforced the sentiment and the title.
“We have a long way to go. But I’m thankful we are united over this.”
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Unfortunately, the Women’s Marches were dogged by accusations of transphobia, as pussy hats and hateful signs marred some attendees’ experiences.
Watch Halsey’s stunning speech here:
here is my entire “A Story Like Mine” poem from today’s #WomensMarch2018 in NYC tw: rape / assault. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/l3fji73woM
— h (@halsey) January 20, 2018
