Gloria Gaynor, best known for her song “I Will Survive,” shared her experiences with sexual abuse for the first time in an interview with People published Tuesday.
The singer expressed the importance of her story due to the prevalence of human trafficking and sexual abuse in an exclusive interview with People. Gaynor emphasized the possibility of healing and thriving post-trauma, a message she feels compelled to share to foster resilience and hope among people who were sexually assaulted.
Gloria Gaynor Talks Sexual Abuse, Surviving and (Finally!) Thriving in New Documentary (Exclusive) https://t.co/cazcCeFzTp
— People (@people) February 13, 2024
“It was difficult, but I feel in light of all of this stuff that’s going on in this country — and not only that, with human trafficking and sexual abuse. When people come out of it, they need to know how to get past it,” she told PEOPLE. “They need to know that they can get past it. It was incumbent upon me to share that so that people can know that you can get past those things, you can survive, and you can thrive.” (RELATED: Conrad Mainwaring Sentenced To 11 Years In Jail After Pleading Guilty To Sexual Abuse Charges: REPORT)
She also revealed that the song “I Will Survive” was inspired by her own life story.
“I want them to know how and why I survive, and that these elements of life, these uplifting, encouraging, inspiring, empowering elements of life are available to them as well,” she added. “I found that the song ‘I Will Survive’ has been so encouraging and uplifting to so many people around the world, and it’s the story of my life. So I thought, ‘Let’s give them a little more detail.'”
Gaynor released a new documentary “Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive” on Tuesday. The documentary not only explores Gaynor’s personal trials but also celebrates the enduring impact of “I Will Survive.”
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the number of suspects prosecuted for human trafficking doubled between 2011 to 2021, from 729 persons to 1,672 persons, respectively.