During Sunday’s Grammys, President Obama encouraged Americans to take personal responsibility to stop domestic violence and sexual assault as part of the White House’s ongoing ‘It’s On Us’ campaign. After his video aired, a woman named Brooke Axtell went on to share her personal story of domestic violence.
Axtell, an Austin-based writer, activist and performance artist, is the director of communications for Allies Against Slavery, a nonprofit that fights human trafficking. Before a performance by Katy Perry, Axtell told her story of abuse: Her partner became increasingly violent and eventually threatened to kill her, before Axtell told her mother about the incident and sought help.
According to an interview with Slate, Axtell herself was trafficked by her nanny at a young age before entering the abusive relationship in her adult life.
“Authentic love does not devalue another human being,” she said at the Grammys. “Authentic love does not silence shame and abuse.”
Grammys 2015: Red Carpet Photos
Taylor Swift attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesLady Gaga attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesKim Kardashian and Kanye West attend the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Lester Cohen—WireImage/Getty ImagesBeyonce attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesRihanna attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Larry Busacca—Getty ImagesKaty Perry attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesRita Ora attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesJohn Mayer attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesSia attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Kevin Mazur—WireImageGwen Stefani attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesMadonna attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesEd Sheeran attends the 57th annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.Lester Cohen—WireImage/Getty ImagesMeghan Trainor attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Larry Busacca—Getty ImagesAriana Grande attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty ImagesNick Jonas attends attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty ImagesKat Graham attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty ImagesAnna Kendrick attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Larry Busacca—Getty ImagesIggy Azalea attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Larry Busacca—Getty ImagesPharrell Williams attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles.Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty ImagesCharli XCX attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif.Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images