Gabrielle Union discusses taking up “Truth Be Told” function as a sexual assault survivor: “At 19, I skilled sexual violence.”

Gabrielle Union stated she had blended emotions when fellow actor Octavia Spencer asker her to take a task in “Truth Be Told.” Three many years in the past, Union was raped at gunpoint whereas at her job, and knew the true crime present would contact on comparable themes. 

“I used to be nervous due to the subject material and undecided simply how I’d react to essentially mining a number of the most traumatic experiences of my life for my artwork, and for such a very long time … for filming,” Union stated. 

But, she stated, “you may’t say no” to Spencer, an Academy Award winner and Union’s longtime pal. 

“I belief her,” Union stated of Spencer. “There’s not lots of people that I belief my peace and my sanity to. But a kind of could be Octavia. And I feel this season, the work that we have achieved and the highlight we have been in a position to placed on human trafficking, sexual trafficking of younger Black and brown ladies and the disparity in media protection and simply the dearth of assets we put in the direction of essentially the most marginalized of the marginalized. For all of that, it is value it.”

Union stated the present on Apple TV+ marks her third time working with Spencer. Union performs a highschool principal who helps true crime podcaster Spencer carry consciousness to lacking Black ladies in the neighborhood.  

Union stated her expertise as a sexual assault survivor compelled her to revisit the concept of dissociation as she filmed. 

“At 19, I skilled sexual violence. I used to be raped at gunpoint at my job,” Union stated. 

“Throughout the filming of this present, I noticed the depths of dissociation. So, when it was occurring … I left my physique. And that’s what they name dissociation. Sort of eradicating your self mentally kind the place you are at. But I assumed I got here again into myself by the point the police arrived.”

Union stated she thought she remembered every part that occurred when she was assaulted, however capturing the present for 5 months introduced out new particulars of her expertise.

“It was like my mind was pulling again the curtain on every part. Smells, like every part that occurred. What his pores and skin felt like. All of it was lastly revealed to me.”

Union stated she nonetheless struggles after her assault, and that filming the present introduced out recent feelings.

“I’d go dwelling each evening and cry,” she stated. “It was like, lastly feeling the total brunt of my rape and having to make use of that ache for artwork, for the larger good. And I simply felt such an infinite accountability.”

Union stated some folks will “make you complicit in your personal abuse.”

“I used to be raped at gunpoint at work,” Union stated, “they usually nonetheless requested me what I had on … as if that issues.”

Union stated 71,000 Black ladies below 17 went lacking in 2021, and most have been recognized as runaways, which she stated means they do not get an Amber alert or legislation enforcement consideration. She referred to as the state of affairs a “world epidemic.”

“Where’s the priority? Where’s the care? Where’s the outrage?” she stated. 

“They’re being subjected to unspeakable horrors, and we’re turning a blind eye,” she stated.