Gabrielle Union expressed conflicted feelings when fellow actor Octavia Spencer approached her about a role in “Truth Be Told.” Union was raped at gunpoint at her job three decades ago, and she knew the true crime show would touch on similar themes.
“I was nervous because of the subject matter, and I wasn’t sure how I’d react to really mining some of the most traumatic experiences of my life for my art, and for such a long time… for filming,” Union explained.
“You can’t say no” to Spencer, an Academy Award winner and Union’s longtime friend, she said.
“I believe in her,” Union said of Spencer. “There aren’t many people I trust with my peace and sanity. Octavia, however, is one of them. And I think this season, the work that we’ve done and the spotlight that we’ve been able to shine on human trafficking, sex trafficking of young Black and brown girls, the disparity in media coverage, and just the lack of resources we’ve put towards the most marginalized of the marginalized, has been particularly effective. It’s well worth it for all of that.”
Union revealed that the show on Apple TV+ is her third collaboration with Spencer. Union portrays a high school principal who works with true crime podcaster Spencer to raise awareness about missing Black girls in the community.
Union stated that her experience as a sexual assault survivor compelled her to revisit the concept of dissociation while filming.
“When I was 19, I was subjected to sexual violence. At work, I was raped at gunpoint “Union stated.
“I realized the depths of my dissociation while filming this show. So, while it was going on… I left my body. That is referred to as dissociation. Sort of mentally removing yourself from where you are. But I thought I’d returned to myself by the time the cops arrived.”
Union claimed that she thought she remembered everything that happened when she was assaulted, but filming the show for five months revealed new details about her ordeal.
“My brain seemed to be pulling back the curtain on everything. Everything that happened smells. What it was like to have his skin. Everything was finally revealed to me.”
Union stated that she is still dealing with the effects of her assault and that filming the show brought up new emotions for her.
“I’d go home every night and cry,” she explained. “It was as if I was finally feeling the full force of my rape and had to channel that pain into art for the greater good. And I felt a tremendous amount of responsibility.”
Some people, according to Union, will “make you complicit in your own abuse.”
“I was raped at work at gunpoint,” Union said, “and they still asked me what I was wearing… as if that matters.”
Union claims that 71,000 Black girls under the age of 17 will go missing in 2021, with the majority being identified as runaways, which means they will not receive an Amber alert or law enforcement attention. She referred to the situation as a “global epidemic.”
“Where is the worry? Where is the concern? What happened to the outrage? “She stated.
“They are subjected to unspeakable horrors, and we are turning a blind eye,” she explained.
