Lady Gaga and Brie Larson Honor Survivors of Sexual Abuse

Vice President Joe Biden made a surprising appearance at the 88th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, declaring “We must and we can change culture, so no woman or man has to ask, ‘What did I do?’ They did nothing wrong.”

He then asked viewers for a pledge to “intervene in situations when consent has not or cannot be given.”

Lady Gaga brought this powerful moment to the next level with a show-stopping performance of “Til It Happens To You,” the track she penned with hitmaker Diane Warren for “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary about rape and assault on college campuses.

The song culminated with an appearance by sexual abuse survivors in the background, holding hands and displaying messages like “It’s Not Your Fault” and “Survivor” written on their arms. And if that wasn’t enough to bring audience members and stars like Rachel McAdams and Kate Winslet to tears, Best Actress winner Brie Larson was then captured by writer Chris Gardner on Twitter video on the side of the stage hugging the survivors.