Content Warning: sexual assault

On June 20, 2020, two women accused Justin Bieber of sexual assault via Twitter. Justin Bieber denies these allegations. Bieber's lawyers state the accusations against him are 'factually impossible,' and disproven both by indisputable documentary evidence. As a result, Bieber is filing a $20 Million defamation suit against the two women who accused him of sexual assault.

With the rise of the 'me too.' Movement, more survivors are coming out and disclosing their sexual violence experiences. They are brave: sharing their stories is not easy. When one tells a story, they're essentially reliving that experience. Let people disclose their experiences at their own pace. Do not (I REPEAT DO NOT) ever participate in victim-blaming. Every experience is unique so it should not be devalued. Victim-blaming discourages people from sharing their stories and can cause them to question their self-worth. The last thing I wanted to hear "I don't understand. Why did you let that happen, though?"

Although the movement's intention is to foster a community for all sexual violence survivors to not feel alone, there are people out there who abuse the power of this movement by making false claims of sexual assault.

According to People, Justin Bieber highlights "every claim of sexual abuse should be taken very seriously and this is why my response was needed. However, this story is factually impossible and that is why I will be working with twitter and authorities to take legal action."

It is unfortunate that not everyone understands the consequences of making false claims of sexual abuse. I personally have male friends who have been falsely accused of sexual assault and it negatively impacted them. Their reputations were damaged because of this false accusation. Sexual assault is a sensitive topic. There is no concrete experience of sexual assault: the definition of sexual violence varies on the individual. A common theme in these situations is feeling violated. If one is pressured to participate in unwanted sexual activity, then that is sexual assault.

Hook-Up Culture is more common today versus back then. Thanks to contraceptives, it's easier for people to participate in sexual activity. With that being said, we need to normalize asking for consent. I don't care if asking consent "ruins the moment." It is essential to constantly communicate during sexual activity for it can be a vulnerable and intimate moment.

Being sexually assaulted is not a trend. The effects of enduring this traumatic experience are real. To this day, I get nauseous thinking about all the times I have been violated and have occasional panic attacks.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. #METOO

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org.