Grammys 2015: Katy Perry, Pres Obama And Activist Team Up To Promote The Fight Against Domestic Violence
The festive occasion in the Grammys 2015 on Sunday was momentarily stopped when President Obama, Brooke Axtelle, an activist and survivor of domestic violence and award-winning pop star Katy Perry staged a heart-rending number which reminds music artists' role in upholding the said cause.
"It's not OK and it has to stop. Artists have a unique power to change minds and attitudes and getting us talking and thinking about what matters, the US President said in the pre-recorded video presented in the hall.
Obama further mentioned statistics regarding the state of domestic violence in the Us further saying that one out of five women in America has been a victim of attempted rape and rape itself, Yahoo News reported.
Brooke Axtell, a human's right activist from Austin and a domestic violence survivor, took the stage after Obama's video.
"Authentic love does not devalue another human being," she said to the audience. "Authentic love does not silence shame or abuse," Axtell, the Director of Communications for Allies Against Slavery said to the audience.
In a separate interview with the New York Daily News, Axtell further continued her advocacy stating the importance of on-time intervention among authorities and the need for male allies who will support the cause.
"I think that we're in a stage in the movement for social justice when we are in desperate need of having male allies, and that means that part of that is confronting within our own communities in a powerful and honest way when violence occurs, and making sure that we're providing interventions for both those who have abused and those who have been abused. I think it's an important part of the conversation because it doesn't help to stigmatize somebody for their own struggle around this issue. But we have to have accountability and we have to have a platform to speak the truth," she said during the interview.
Axtell's moving speech was followed by Katy Perry's performance of "By the Grace of God".
In a video posted in Rollingstone, the 30-year old popstar was donned with an all-white floor-length gown while singing the emotional song.
Katy's stage is also transformed with the use of effects particularly shadows and artificial smoke that contributes to the solemn atmosphere.
