Gabrielle Union on Rihanna's Music Video: 'I Tried to Shoot My Rapist Too'

By Kiki Von Glinow Posted Jun 7th 2011 03:15PM

After Rihanna received much criticism for her 'Man Down' music video in which she shoots a man who had previously sexually assaulted her, actress Gabrielle Union is backing up the controversial singer's true to life, for some, revenge video, reports E! Online.

After a fan asked Union, via Twitter, what she thought about the video, the 'Bring it On' actress responded with more than just a nay or yay approval of the violent imagery.

"Saw 'Man Down' by @rihanna," she tweeted. "Every victim/survivor of rape is unique, including how they THINK they'd like justice 2 be handed out ... During my rape I tried 2 shoot my rapist, bt I missed. Over the yrs I realized tht killin my rapist would've added insult 2 injury. The DESIRE 2 kill someone whose abused/raped u is understandable, bt unless its self defense n the moment 2 save ur life, just ADDS 2 ur troubles."

Although this is not the first time that Union, 38, has spoken publicly about the sexual assault she experienced at 19 years old, this is the first time she has admitted to attempting to shoot her attacker. The actor continued, via Twitter, that the assault took place during a robbery at a store where she was working. Her attacker put his weapon down during the rape, before Union picked up the gun and fired a shot.

"#Mandown video did a GREAT job of getting the ENTIRE world Talking abt RAPE," she continued. "I hope tht it leads 2 HEALING & PREVENTS RAPE."

Union's take on the video is just one more in a pile of opinions of the singer's video which is only the latest of Rihanna's controversial contenders.

Tags: gabrielle union, rihanna

Comments

(39)

Tuesday 07 June

By Bougainvillea

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I hate that Ms. Union had to suffer through that. And I hate what Twitter has done to the English language.

Wednesday 08 June

By Brittney

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Did you guys know that Chris Brown and Rihanna are secretly seeing each other again. She personally ask the judge to removed the restrainning order, he did.
It's a known fact were every Rihanna is Chris Brown is near by. She told an interview she and Chris want let everyone know without Rihanna losing fans.

By Lee

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

LIKE MOST COLORED WOMEN SHE PROBABLY LED THE RAPIST ON. COLORED WOMEN HAVE NO MORALS.

By James

@Lee...And the same could be said for white women, so what's your point.???

By Sherwood

Ahh, you're adding imagery now. Because your regular spam just wasn't irritating enough.

By paul

Ms union is knock down BEAUTIFUL......

By Georgia

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So you can draw scissors cutting out a circle. Why would anyone what to suck on that?

By jan

What Gabrielle did and what Rihanna did in the video is totally different. Gabrielle tried to shoot her rapist during the act of the rape, which would have made it self defense. In Rihanna's video, the rapist was shot some time after the rape happened, which does not qualify as self defense. Rihanna's video is still a cry for help. That girl needs help. She has totally lost it. She is sending out the wrong message. Hopefully, no young girls will try to imulate Rihanna's video.

Saturday 11 June

By Raspberry

Well you know what Jan, sometimes the effect of the rape or sexual abuse way after the fact can be even more detrimental. I was raped and sexually abused by my mom's and aunts boyfriend. starting when I was 8. I have two little girls and a lot of my thoughts are of them being abused. I can't even hold a relationship, because I am afraid someone may harm them. There own dads are suspect. So I am very damaged way after. And sometimes I want to put a bullet in there heads. I won't because I know the consequences. Simply!! There is no real justice for abused children or women. A lot of times it gets swept away. Live it and then talk about, what some young girl should do.

By ADMR

SEErazy & Broken...

By getreal13

Not only did she shoot him after the fact, but she shot him in the back of the head. COLD BLOODED MURDER! Two wrongs don't make a right.

By deidre

I agree they are two different things. Rhianna has lost her mind. She knows she really should have done something to Chris and she didnt. I could see this in 1980 and women not being aware, but this is 2011, to much has been televised, written, told, put in books and newspapers about this very thing. And yet some women are no more cautious than they were 20 years ago. Gabrielle's situation was self defense. Rhiannas is murder.

By mac102751

Rapists deserve to be shot before, during or after the fact. Justce would be served.

By NOT HAPPY WITH MY TV

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Where are my t.v. censors?? why must I have to watch someone like rhianna kill a man on t.v.?? was she a victim of rape?? and so wouldent it make sence to seek help?? this a so called roll model for our future generation. can we as parents stand up and censor this so called pop(illuminati puppets)"artist"??

By Juli

"Where are my t.v. censors??" WTF? Why would you need a censor when all you have to do is; (#1) turn it OFF (BTW, it's that little power button at the top of the remote) or (#2) change the channel (again, see remote)
If you are watching MTV, you should know (unless you are totally clueless) it's going to be over the top & you should watch with caution.

By Sally

Since you are going waaaaay over the 140 characters anyway - just type in a real language. That just post made you look uneducated to the Nth since it was obvious you weren't trying to fit into the tight character limit.

By Gia

Ok, not exactly sure what the problem is. Man rapes woman, she gets payback, but is speaking of her regret.

By barry jones

ART IMITATING LIFE...JUST LIKE IN REAL LIFE...SOME FOLKS TAKE JUSTICE IN THEIR OWN HANDS!

BTW, (speaking as a parent) who the hell said *anyone* on MTV should be a "role model"? (besides you) Why don't YOU try taking a little personal responsibility for raisng your children & try to be the role model YOU think they need ?

By colleen

Juli, whether you think they "should" be role models or not--they are. Young people look up to the Rhianna's of the world and for some kids, no amount of parental intervention is going to stop that. We aren't talking 8 and 10 year olds--we are talking teenagers and young adults. Seeing one of their "rock stars" (as she called herself on twitter), shoot and kill someone, will have a profound effect on young people. Mark my words--some girl out there will copy those actions thinking it is the right thing to do because she saw it done by someone she looks up to. Strong families have more influence on their children--many,many young people do not have a strong network of support and they are the ones looking for guidance from others. So, thanks Rhianna-nice job.

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