February 8, 2015 10:07 PM EST
D uring 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 Images Lady Gaga attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Kim 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 Images Beyonce attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Rihanna attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Larry Busacca—Getty Images Katy Perry attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Rita Ora attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jason Merritt—Getty Images John Mayer attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Sia attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Kevin Mazur—WireImage Gwen Stefani attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Madonna attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Ed Sheeran attends the 57th annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Lester Cohen—WireImage/Getty Images Meghan Trainor attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Larry Busacca—Getty Images Ariana Grande attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images Nick Jonas attends attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images Kat Graham attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images Anna Kendrick attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Larry Busacca—Getty Images Iggy Azalea attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Larry Busacca—Getty Images Pharrell Williams attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles. Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images Charli XCX attends the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images More Must-Reads from TIME Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0 How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024 Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision