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Entertainment December 14, 2016
Lady Gaga and Madonna have been widely applauded for going public recently for revealing their trauma at both having been raped in the past. But Piers Morgan is throwing doubt on their stories.
The TV host and journalist says he “remains skeptical about Madonna’s and Lady Gaga’s claims” because their “allegations of rape [came] many years after the event.”
But the fact there was no criminal prosecution in either case is not unusual. According to estimates from the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, only 40 percent of rape or sexual assault cases are ever reported to the police. Other studies put the figure even lower.
Morgan suggested to Gaga, “Let’s do an interview about this and you can tell me why I’m wrong to be [skeptical].”
After reading his online commentary challenging her claim to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of the sexual assault and other matters, Gaga agreed to an interview with the British media personality.
READ MORE: Madonna Slams ‘Sexism, Misogyny and Constant Bullying’
No.
Lady Gaga & Madonna have both made ALLEGATIONS of rape many years after the event.
No police complaint, no charges, no court case. https://t.co/N8oWjcMKAC— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 10, 2016
I don’t know who you are, let alone tell you that you weren’t raped.
I remain sceptical about Madonna & Lady Gaga’s claims. https://t.co/A8kmcBeJJI
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 12, 2016
The former “America’s Got Talent” judge also suggested that the “Joanne” singer used her PTSD to “promote” her album.
I come from a big military family.
It angers me when celebrities start claiming ‘PTSD’ about everything to promote themselves. https://t.co/IeSiGQkOjb— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 10, 2016
Then, he pointed out how he felt the mental illness has become “the latest celebrity accessory.”
Yes, I fear it’s become the latest celebrity accessory. https://t.co/wuJfbzCXVg
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 11, 2016
Lady Gaga, on the other hand, has repeatedly described what it’s like for her to live with PTSD. “It is a daily effort for me, even during this album cycle, to regulate my nervous system so that I don’t panic over circumstances that to many would seem like normal life situations,” she wrote in an open letter published on the Born This Way Foundation website.
READ MORE: Lady Gaga Thanks ‘Inspiring’ Madonna and Makes Peace
So, in an attempt to set the record straight, Gaga directly Tweeted Morgan to tell him about her advocacy work about why women don’t report rape cases and how PTSD is a “mental health youth epidemic.”
@piersmorgan I’ve work w/ our VP Joe Biden on helping educate people about why women don’t report, would love to share it w/ you some time.
— xoxo, Joanne (@ladygaga) December 13, 2016
@piersmorgan would also love to talk with you about PTSD, that it’s not just a “military” disorder. There is a mental health youth epidemic.
— xoxo, Joanne (@ladygaga) December 13, 2016
After Gaga obliged his interview request, Morgan praised her for “agreeing to an interview after [his] criticisms.”
The two celebs agree that this is an important issue because, as Gaga has said, “Traditionally, many associate PTSD as a condition faced by brave men and women that serve countries all over the world.
“While this is true, I seek to raise awareness that this mental illness affects all kinds of people, including our youth.”
Gaga went public with fresh statements about the healing process from her past traumas after praising Madonna for using her acceptance speech for her Billboard Women in Music award to discuss misogyny and being raped.
READ MORE: Lady Gaga’s Holiday Message: ‘Just Be Kind’