How Lady Gaga's Family Reacted to Her Oscars Performance
Close family members didn't know she was a victim of sexual assault.
— -- Stars and survivors of sexual abuse have been speaking out about Lady Gaga's emotional performance at the Oscars this past Sunday, but her family is also reacting.
Gaga performed the Oscar-nominated song "Til It Happens To You" alongside 50 sexual abuse survivors. The Grammy winner has been open about her sexual assault and her recovery. The theme of her performance was to raise awareness and remove the stigma that abuse victims often feel.
Gaga touched on this theme when she spoke about a moment she shared with her grandmother and aunt the day after the show.
"My grandmother and my Aunt Sheri both called me the day after the Oscars because I never told them I was a survivor. I was too ashamed," she said. "Too afraid. And it took me a long time to even admit it to myself because I'm Catholic and I knew it was evil but I thought it was my fault. I thought it was my fault for ten years."
Gaga said she spoke to her grandmother Ronnie on Monday morning and "with tears in her eyes I could hear them welling through the phone she said to me 'My darling granddaughter, I've never been more proud of you than I am today.'"
Gaga continued: "Something I have kept a secret for so long that I was more ashamed of than anything became the thing the women in my life were the most proud of. And not just any women, the ones I look up to the most. #BeBrave #speakup #tilithappenstoyou."
Gaga also posted pictures with the victims she welcomed on stage.
"Thank you for standing next to me on stage. Thank you for all the things you said, for listening to my story and sharing yours. I will never forget it. 50 survivors, so brave, relentless determination," she wrote.
She made sure not to forget her fiance Taylor Kinney, who has been right by her side through this emotional journey.
"I never thought anyone would ever love me because I felt like my body was ruined by my abuser. But he loves the survivor in me. He's stood by me all night proud and unashamedly. THATS a real man," she added.