Lady Gaga performed her song "Til It Happens to You" at the Oscars Sunday evening surrounded by dozens of survivors of sexual assault. The performance was thick with emotion and made a powerful statement about the culture surrounding assault.

One of those survivors is Mainer Robbie Woodsum of Portland. Robbie was featured in the film, The Hunting Ground, a documentary about sexual assault on college campuses, and was asked to join other survivors and Lady Gaga on stage.  Robbie shared this backstage photo with us after the moving performance.

Being on stage at the Oscars in front of the world with my fellow survivors, Lady Gaga included, wasn't about personal attention or for getting noticed. It was to put real faces to the epidemic sexual assault across the country against women and men. I am proud and honored to take that stand, even if it was the most terrifying experience of my life. I am a survivor, nothing can change it, and nothing can change that moment of triumph.

- Robbie Woodsum

Robbie Woodsum
ABC
loading...

With VP Joe Biden, who asked to meet the survivors.

Joe Biden
Courtesy of Robbie Woodsum
loading...

Before the show:

Robbie Wooodsum
Courtesy of Robbie Woodsum
loading...

 

More From Q97.9