Katy Perry made a powerful and moving statement against domestic abuse with her Grammys performance of her Prism ballad By the Grace of God Sunday.
The segment featuring Katy Perry’s performance started with a taped video from President Barack Obama urging the end of “violence against women and girls” in order to “change our culture for the better.”
“It’s not OK and it has to stop,” President Obama said, before citing the staggering statistics of women who were the victims of attempted rape or domestic violence.
Obama noted the impact musicians like Katy Perry have in bringing social ills into he light.
“Artists have a unique power to change minds and attitudes and get us thinking and talking about what matters.”
.@katyperry Took A Stand Against Domestic Violence With Her Emotional Grammy Performance
http://t.co/6ZZSARcTgv pic.twitter.com/vEM6NrihB6
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) February 9, 2015
Brooke Axtell, an Austin-based domestic-abuse survivor, activist and performance artist, followed Obama’s opening with a spoken-word piece.
“If you are in a relationship with someone that does not honor or respect you, I want you to know that you are worthy of love,” said Axtell.
Finally, Katy Perry, 30, took to the stage, dressed in white against a white backdrop, and sang the ballad while interpretive dancers performing as shadows behind her.
Katy Perry ditched the colorful theatrics to shed light on domestic violence at the #Grammys: http://t.co/83UsYgY6Cp pic.twitter.com/zjevckImRw
— E! Online (@eonline) February 9, 2015
Katy Perry‘s performance received a standing ovation from the audience.