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Lady Gaga performed “Til It Happens to You” at the 88th annual Academy Awards on Sunday evening.
The singer, whose song from The Hunting Ground — a documentary focusing on sexual assault on college campuses — was in contention for the best original song Oscar, was introduced to the stage by Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden, who received a standing ovation from the audience, said of the song, “Too many women and men … are still victims of sexual abuse.”
He called on the audience to “take the pledge. A pledge that says, ‘I will intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given.’ Let’s change the culture.”
“They did nothing wrong,” Biden later said of victims of sexual abuse. “Take the pledge.”
Gaga, donning all white, then sat at an all-white piano and sang her moving song surrounded by a group of male and female survivors, each of whom had words or phrases written on their arms, including “It Happened to Me” and “Survivor.”
At the finale of her song, Gaga stood with the survivors and held hands with them onstage as the audience stood in cheering support.
Shortly following the Oscars, fellow musician Kesha showed her support for Gaga’s performance with a heartfelt tweet. “Thank u @ladygaga and VP @JoeBiden for bringing attention to sexual assault at the oscars. it hit very close to my heart for obvious reasons,” she tweeted, alluding to her legal battle against producer Dr. Luke, in which she alleges that he sexually assaulted her.
The Chris Rock-hosted awards were held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
thank u @ladygaga and VP @JoeBiden for bringing attention to sexual assault at the oscars. it hit very close to my heart for obvious reasons
— kesha (@KeshaRose) February 29, 2016
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