Highlights
- Lady Gaga opens up about her experience with assault and trauma, sharing the impact it had on her mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
- Gaga defends Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and explains the science behind trauma, emphasizing the changes that occur in the brain and the effects it can have on a person’s life.
- Gaga discusses her own post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis and the chronic pain and trauma response she experiences regularly, while emphasizing the importance of seeking help and supporting others who may be suffering.
Lady Gaga is a pop music powerhouse with a ton of hit singles and awards to her name. She has even acted and earned praise for her lead role in A Star Is Born. Her rise to the top wasn’t easy, however, and Gaga has been open about the struggles she experienced along the way.
One of those struggles was being assaulted at 19 by a record producer. Gaga said the experience affected her in numerous ways and she has shared what she’s learned with the world.
It was with this prior experience and knowledge that Gaga to give an answer to a political question on Stephen Colbert’s late night show in 2018. It was a moment the late night host didn’t seem to expect and by the end, he was left speechless.
Lady Gaga Leaves Stephen Colbert Speechless After Defending Dr. Christine Blasey Ford
In 2018, Gaga appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote her film A Star Is Born. Gaga was in the midst of a hugely successful period in her career. From the success of the film to the song “Shallow” topping the charts worldwide, Gaga had a lot to celebrate.
However, as their interview was winding down, Colbert asked Gaga if it was okay to talk politics, citing her prior openness on such issues.
When prompted by Colbert, Gaga said “bring it on.” Colbert then asked Gaga how she deals with the political landscape that left people on both sides of the divide very unhappy.
It was then that Gaga started talking about Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and the allegations she made against Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
“I am a sexual assault survivor,” Gaga said. “Trump the other day was speaking at a rally, and he said, ‘She has no memory of how she got to the party. Should we trust that she remembers the assault?’ And the answer is ‘yes’”
Gaga went on to explain scientific studies that have shown how the brain responds to trauma.
“And I also know this woman is smart because she’s a psychologist – she’s no dummy,” Gaga said. “If someone is assaulted or experiences trauma, there’s science and scientific proof – it’s biology – that people change. The brain changes.”
She continued, “What it does is it takes the trauma and it puts it in a box and it files it away and shuts it so that we can survive the pain. And it also does a lot of other things. It can cause body pain. It can cause baseline elevations in anxiety. It can cause complete avoidance of not wanting to even remember or think about what happened to you.”
Gaga then concluded that she believed Dr. Ford’s desire to bring the allegations to light was due to being triggered.
“But what I believe is that when this woman saw that Judge Kavanaugh was going to be possibly put in the highest position of power in the judicial system of this country, she was triggered, and that box opened,” Gaga said. “And when that box opened, she was brave enough to share it with the world to protect this country.”
Gaga’s answer left Colbert speechless, a rarity for the talk show host. Colbert just took his glass to cheers Gaga for her answer.
Gaga First Opened Up About Her Experience With Assault On ‘The Howard Stern Show’
Gaga first opened up about her own experience with trauma and assault on an episode of The Howard Stern Show in 2014.
“I went through some horrific things,” Gaga said. “I’m able to laugh now because I’ve gone through a lot of mental, physical and emotional therapy.”
This interview was when Gaga first revealed she was assaulted by a producer when she was just 19. Gaga has never named the producer, but did say he was 20 years older than her.
Gaga then said she was in denial for a long time afterward. According to the singer, it was years until she finally came to terms with what happened.
“I wasn’t even willing to admit that anything had even happened,” she said. “I saw him one time in a store, and I was paralyzed by fear.”
Gaga Told Oprah Winfrey That She Was Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
When Gaga won the Academy Award for her song “Shallow” in 2019, it appeared to be a celebratory moment. As she accepted her award, Gaga was very emotional and highlighted how hard she worked to get on that stage.
However, behind the glamour and accolades, Gaga would later tell Oprah Winfrey in an interview for Elle there was deep pain at that moment.
“I had to relive a lot of my career doing that role,” Gaga said of her character in A Star Is Born.
She said that due to her experience being assaulted, the process of doing the movie was painful.
“I have been traumatized in a variety of ways by my career over the years from many different things, but I survived, and I’ve kept going,” she said. “And when I looked at that Oscar, I saw pain.”
Gaga has also been open about her post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis.
“I have PTSD. I have chronic pain. Neuropathic pain trauma response is a weekly part of my life,” she explained. “I’m on medication; I have several doctors. This is how I survive. But you know what, Oprah? I kept going, and that kid out there or even that adult out there who’s been through so much, I want them to know that they can keep going, and they can survive, and they can win their Oscar.”
Gaga continued, “I would also beckon to anyone to try, when they feel ready, to ask for help. And I would beckon to others that if they see someone suffering, to approach them and say, ‘Hey, I see you. I see that you’re suffering, and I’m here. Tell me your story.’”
Source: NewsFinale
