My favorite meme star and former Vice President Joe Biden has teased a potential presidential run before, and while it's unclear whether he'll return to a major office someday, it's clear that he is using his voice to promote important causes. The politician recently teamed with Lady Gaga in a joint video message to speak against sexual assault amidst a worldwide rise in conversation about it, ABC News reports.
Appearing together in a video shared on Gaga's Twitter account, the pair produced the PSA as a part of Biden and former President Barack Obama's "It's On Us" campaign, which works toward ending sexual assault on college campuses. The two previously supported this cause together when Biden introduced Gaga's performance of "Till It Happens to You" at the 2016 Academy Awards. The Best Song nominee appeared in the documentary The Hunting Ground, which addressed rape on college campuses.
"I'm here with not only a great friend but a fierce advocate," Biden said of Gaga in the video. "Lady Gaga has been the voice for people who have been forgotten, the people who've been abused, until it happens to you—well, it happened to her, and she's shown enormous courage."
A message from me & my buddy Vice President @JoeBiden@ItsOnUs to stop sexual assault. Go to https://t.co/aMd5silSst#ItsOnUs to help. pic.twitter.com/w5JGRCd2z8
— xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) October 25, 2017
"It's on us, it's on everyone to intervene—to stop abuse when they see it and when they hear about it to intervene," Biden said. "No man has a right to raise a hand to a woman for any reason other than self-defense. Ever. Period."
Gaga also spoke in the message, recognizing male victims of sexual assault and identifying herself as a survivor. "I know the effects, the aftermath, the trauma," she said. "It can be terrifying...but we're here to remind you that it's important to reach out to someone in your life that you can trust, and to know that they will be there to help you; there will be someone to listen. Because you know what? It's on us."
After the video was posted, Biden thanked Gaga for the opportunity on Twitter, writing, "With [Gaga's] leadership, and your help, we can change the culture."
Honored to work with a woman of great courage, my friend @ladygaga. With her leadership, and your help, we can change the culture. #ItsOnUshttps://t.co/ZcaOqncopa
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 25, 2017
Biden has long been an advocate for ending abuse of women, introducing the Violence Against Women Act as a senator in 1990 and eventually creating the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault in 2014 alongside Obama. This past April, he spoke to male students at George Mason University about respecting sexual consent. The "It's On Us" campaign launched in 2014 and has worked with students on more than 500 campuses.