Comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell has performed Helen Reddy’s feminist anthem “I Am Woman” alongside survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring, using the performance to speak out against sexual abuse and criticise the US response to the scandal.
O’Donnell shared a video of the performance on Thursday, saying she had invited several Epstein survivors to join her in singing the 1972 song after what she described as troubling comments surrounding the handling of the Epstein files.
“After the corrupt AG (Trump’s former personal lawyer) implied that he did not believe men accused of sex abuse would be charged as a result of the Epstein files – despite mountains of evidence,” O’Donnell wrote in the caption accompanying the video.
She said the song had personal significance because it taught her from an early age to use her voice.
“I called some Epstein survivors asked them to sing with me, a powerful Helen Reddy song that taught me at 10 years old to use my voice,” she wrote.
O’Donnell urged the public to support survivors who have spoken publicly about their experiences and encouraged others to share or recreate the performance.
The comedian was joined by Andrea Sterling, Sharlene Rochard, Lara Blume McGee, Jena-lisa Jones, Wendy Pesante, Lisa Phillips, Marina Lacerda and Chauntae Davies.
Addressing the survivors during the performance, O’Donnell acknowledged the difficulties they had faced and criticised the lack of support they had received.
“I know it’s been very hard for you, and with very little support, and I’m sorry that our country’s so fucked up,” she told them.
“But this is what we have to live through. Because you are all heroes, and you’re going to change how the world deals with child sex abuse.”
O’Donnell’s Latest Attack On Trump
The performance comes days after O’Donnell used another musical performance to criticise US President Donald Trump.
While wrapping up her guest-hosting stint on Jimmy Kimmel Live, O’Donnell performed a scathing version of the Irish folk song “Danny Boy”, using the song to urge Trump to resign.
Her latest comments also come amid continuing legal fallout surrounding Trump’s dispute with The Wall Street Journalover its reporting of an alleged birthday letter he purportedly sent to Epstein.
A judge previously dismissed Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the newspaper. Trump subsequently filed an amended lawsuit in May.
Trump has denied writing the alleged letter and has maintained his innocence in relation to the Epstein case.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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