Lady Gaga dropped her newest music video, “Til It Happens To You,” last Thursday and it instantly gained over a million views in a day. Unlike most of Lady Gaga’s previous videos, this wasn’t stylistic and high concept nor was the song itself a pop-fueled dance tune that the songstress is famously known for.
“Til It Happens To You” is nothing short of poignant. It focuses on different group of college students, those who have encountered rape and sexual assault, and what follows the traumatic incident. A trigger warning precedes the video and for good reason: the entire experience is graphic and emotional and it’s hard to imagine how a victim of college campus rape could get through the music video. It’s heartbreaking. And it’s a reality.
But making it to the end of the video is worth it. Lady Gaga is only present in this video through her voice, but she’s instead given a platform for an important issue and for all those affected. Solidarity is demonstrated and depicted. It’s crucial that victims receive support and understanding, that their loved ones be open and non-judgmental, and that perpetrators of rape and sexual assault know how devastating their actions can be. Although the recent statistics in regards to campus rape vary and “1 in 5” remains as the most used and general statistic, it does not mean someone should blame sexual violence on the victim.
We need more media and artists to tackle the harsh realities of society. Lady Gaga’s “Til It Happens To You” is a must-watch PSA. It goes into the core of a painful problem.
Here’s the video below. And as mentioned before, this is an intense video. Please be prepared.