Sexual Assault Victims Unite in Lady Gaga's 'Til It Happens to You' Video

A chilling montage of sexual assault stories play out in Lady Gaga’s video for “Til It Happens to You,” directed by Twilight’s Catherine Hardwicke.

After a series of visually revolting images of women falling victim to sexual abuse and violence (in a dorm room, at a party), the video ends on a more uplifting note. The women eventually get help from their support groups, promoting a message of solidarity to accompany the song’s pressing lyrics (written by Diane Warren): “Till it happens to you, you won’t know how it feels.”

Gaga tweeted that the song—which also appeared in The Hunting Ground, a documentary about campus sexual assault—is “for people all over the world who suffer from painful life experiences.” And: “We hope u feel our love&solidarity through the song & perhaps find some peace in knowing u r not alone through this film.”