Lady Gaga has bravely opened up about her traumatic sexual assault on the first episode of Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry‘s new mental health docu-series, The Me You Can’t See.
Speaking on the AppleTV+ series, Lady Gaga discussed the aftermath of her rape, and how she was left pregnant on the side of the road at just 19. Gaga is still bearing those scars today, and told Oprah that she had to take a “psychotic break” in 2018 from the trauma.
“I was 19 years old, and I was working in the business, and a producer said to me, ‘Take your clothes off,’” she told Oprah.
“And I said no. And I left, and they told me they were going to burn all of my music. And they didn’t stop. They didn’t stop asking me, and I just froze and I—I don’t even remember.”
Years later Gaga went to her doctor with chronic pain, which turned out to be a symptom of her PTSD. The A Star is Born actress is now often triggered by things that remind her of what happened.
“First I felt full-on pain, then I went numb,” Gaga said.
“I realised it was the same pain I felt when the person who raped me dropped me off pregnant on the corner, at my parents’ house, because I was vomiting and sick. Because I was being abused. I was locked away in a studio for months.
The singer also opened up about her experiences with self harm, and how she thought the only way she could deal with what was going on internally was by self harming.
“Even if I have six brilliant months, all it takes is getting triggered once to feel bad,” she added.
“And when I say I feel bad, I mean I want to cut. Think about dying. Wondering if I’m ever going to do it. I learned all the ways to pull myself out of it.”
Lady Gaga told Oprah that she hopes her story will allow people to open their “heart up for somebody else.”
“Because I’m telling you, I’ve been through it and people need help. So, that’s part of my healing, being able to talk to you.”
The Me You Can’t See premieres today on AppleTV+.
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you’d like to speak to someone about sexual violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
If you are in distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
You can also reach the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or chat online
